Arkansas Officials Warn of Rising Sextortion Cases Targeting Your Kids

You may have noticed arrests of child predators are way up nationwide, including here in Arkansas. The Arkansas Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force is urging parents and caregivers to take stronger steps to protect kids online, as reports of child sextortion are on the rise across the state.

As of June, Arkansas has already received 170 sextortion reports, more than the total for all of 2024. Nationwide, more than 19,000 sextortion cases involving minors are reported each year. By comparison, only 350 - 400 child abductions by non-family members are reported annually.

“This threat is real, and it’s different from what many of us grew up worrying about,” said Sergeant Corwin Battle, Commander of the Arkansas ICAC Task Force.

The warning comes during Safer Internet Month and follows April’s Operation Safe Online Summer, a nationwide push to combat child exploitation through technology.

While federal laws like the REPORT Act are helping, encrypted platforms like Snapchat and Instagram make it harder for investigators to detect abuse. That’s why ICAC officials say parents must have regular conversations with their children about online safety.

The Task Force is now promoting updated “online rules” to reflect the digital age:

• Don’t talk to strangers online — even if they seem friendly or say things you like.
• Never click on links or accept friend requests from people you don’t really know.
• If something feels wrong online, tell a trusted adult immediately.
• Don’t share personal details like your school, hometown, or photos online.
• Don’t accept gifts, money, or promises from people online—no matter how good it sounds.

To report suspicious activity, contact the Arkansas State Fusion Center at 501-618-8001 or the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST.

Talk to your kids; it may be the only way to keep them safe.

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