The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is warning families about the growing threat of financial sextortion targeting children, a crime that has led to tragic deaths across the country.
One mother shared how her 17 year old son, James Woods, died by suicide in 2022 after being targeted by online predators who allegedly coerced him into sending a compromising video before demanding money and threatening to release it.
Tamia Woods testified before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, urging parents to talk openly with their children about sextortion and online exploitation.
According to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, more than 50,000 reports of financial sextortion were received in 2025, up from more than 36,000 reports the previous year.
The TBI says investigators are currently working to identify and locate more than 150 child victims in Tennessee.
Former FBI agent Scott Augenbaum said predators often pose as teenagers on social media, spend time gaining a child’s trust, then pressure victims into sending explicit images. Once they have the images, they demand money and may even impersonate government officials to increase fear and urgency.
Officials say many of these criminals operate from overseas, making investigations difficult. Because of that, they stress that education, prevention, and open communication between parents and children are critical.
The TBI urges anyone who believes a child may be a victim of sextortion to contact their local law enforcement agency immediately.
A federal bill named after James Woods has advanced out of the Senate Judiciary Committee. If passed, it would make sextortion a specific federal crime, increase penalties for online child exploitation, and strengthen efforts to target criminal networks that coerce children into harming themselves or others.