PGPD is warning parents about online threats and extortion attempts made via social media through Instagram and Tik Tok targeting at least four middle schoolers and urging parents to report similar threats against kids immediately for police investigation.
The warning comes after four students at a county middle school received threatening demands via their social media accounts to pay $1000 or face harm.
Detectives are actively investigating and attempting to identify and arrest any individuals behind the threats.
Officers were alerted after the school learned of the threats and contacted school security.
The children’s parents were immediately notified and picked up their children.
When the children refused to pay, more messages were sent with images of the children’s homes from Google maps.
The school’s name is not being revealed to protect the children’s identities and discourage similar schemes targeting students there.
Parents are warned to monitor their children’s use of social media and limit their activities on the platforms.
Any extortion threats targeting kids should be reported to the police immediately. People should not attempt to handle the issue on their own. No one should ever pay money to an individual making a threat.