EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (WEAU) – A new event is aiming to educate parents about a dangerous crime that targets children and teens online.
The Eau Claire Police Department and other local organizations are banding together to raise awareness about the increasing dangers of sextortion in the Chippewa Valley. Sextortion is when fraudsters pretend to gain a young person’s trust, only to ask them to send explicit photos in exchange for money. The ‘Protecting Our Youth: Understanding Sextortion’ is a free community event designed to help families recognize the risks, prevention, and how to respond if it happens. Cindy Waller, the system care coordinator for the Eau Claire School District (ECASD) and Eau Claire County, helps prevent youth from ending up in the court system and is helping to organize the event. Waller said she wanted to host an event that would start conversations between families because of the impact this crime can have on children’s mental health.
“We try to protect our youth, and we believe that they’re safe, but I think it’s a very hush-hush topic and has a rather negative stigma to it. When children get caught up in the situation, they don’t know how to get out of it, and so the only way they feel that they can get relieved of the situation is by committing suicide.”
There will be a resource fair, and parents who will share their story about the devastating loss of a child who took their life due to sextortion. Afterwards, a discussion panel will be held, allowing families to ask questions and receive advice from experts. The ‘Protecting Our Youth: Understanding Sextortion’ event will take place at the Eau Claire Event District from 4:30 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, October 1. You can find more information here.