AURORA, Colo. — Multiple reports of "sextortion" targeting Aurora students have been reported to school resource officers, and Aurora's internet crimes against children unit is investigating.
Sextortion is a form of exploitation where a child victim is blackmailed with the threat of publishing an explicit image unless the victim sends money. Police said sextortion can also involve sharing sexually explicit images with others in exchange for money.
The first report of a sextortion scheme targeting students at eight different Aurora-area schools was reported on Jan. 16 to a school resource officer, police said.
Police said students in six of the sextortion instances said they were directly targeted after a suspect contacted them through Instagram.
"In dozens of others, students reported receiving unsolicited invitations to pay to join an Instagram 'Close Friends List' where sexually explicit material had been posted," police said in a news release.
APD said the schools involved in the scheme are in the Aurora and Cherry Creek districts. They include:
- Rangeview High School
- Smoky Hill High School
- Gateway High School
- Vista Peak High School
- Cherokee Trail High School
- Overland High School
- Aurora Hills Middle School
- Mrachek Middle School
Detectives with the department's Internet Crimes Against Children Unit are working with district officials in Aurora and Cherry Creek to identify any additional victims.
The investigation also includes detectives working with Meta, which owns Instagram, to identify the suspects' accounts and determine the legitimacy of the photos and videos that have been shared to social media.
9NEWS reached out to both school districts about the investigation and the Cherry Creek School District Public Information Officer, Laura Snell said, "We take these reports very seriously and are supporting law enforcement in their investigations." No word from Aurora Public Schools yet.
It's unknown if any district or school communications about the incidents and police investigation have been sent to families and parents whose children attend the schools involved.
Aurora Police said the investigation is active. They ask anyone with information about the case or additional victims to reach out to non-emergency dispatch at 303-627-3100 and reference case #AP2024-10276.
Police also reminded tipsters that Safe2Tell accepts anonymous reports.
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