December 10, 2020

Online Scam Targeting Area Teens

As schools continue to engage in remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic, there are reports of cyber-criminals targeting students (primarily male teenagers) in sextortion activities.

Dear HPS Families

We have recently been made aware of a dangerous internet extortion scam that is targeting students in nearby counties and school districts. It is important you know what is happening and that you are aware of what can be done to protect your child.

The recent scam appears to focus particularly on Middle and High School boys. However anyone can be targeted.  We are told that the victim is sent a Google Meet invitation from an unknown address. After the student clicks on this unmarked invitation, they are greeted by what appears to be a person interested in forming a romantic connection. They are manipulated by this predator to exchange sexual texts and pictures.  If the student follows the directions and exposes themselves, the virtual meeting is recorded and then the people responsible for the scam use the video as an attempt to blackmail the student and their families for money so that the video is not released. They are told the explicit photos or videos will be posted on the internet unless a large sum of money is sent to an account via Western Union or PayPal. If the teen says no, threats escalate. The exact details vary case-by-case.

Police are aware of this disturbing criminal activity and are investigating. Please notify us if your child receives suspicious email messages or invitations on their HPS email account.

Please, take this opportunity to discuss appropriate online behavior with your teenager. 

  • Never enter an unidentified virtual meeting (Google Meet or Zoom). 
  • When using a HPS email account, students should only attend Google Meets sent by their teacher or staff member (who is also using their HPS email account) either through Google Classroom or Google Calendar. 
  • Students should not use their HPS email accounts for any non-academic purposes (especially to sign into accounts for entertainment purposes).
  • Never share passwords to their HPS email or any social media accounts.
  • Students should never, for any reason, expose themselves on camera.

Here are several resources that may help you talk to your child about internet safety:

Our technology department is working to create additional barriers for external threats like this and to monitor any such breach.  Here are some of the steps HPS is taking to protect HPS students:

  • All HPS devices have Internet filters installed to alert our network technicians of potentially dangerous activity.
  • Only individuals with an HPS email account are able to access Google Meets that are used within HPS schools. If a person does not have an HPS email account, the host of the meeting must allow them to enter the meeting.  
  • We are committed to keeping all students safe and are continually working to eliminate network issues that could leave our students exposed to this kind of disturbing criminal activity.

While we are doing all we can to keep your child safe while they are on the internet, YOU are the most important safety measure for the protection of your child! Thank you for talking with them about internet safety and appropriate online behavior. It is also best practice to monitor your child’s internet activity not only on their district-issued device but any other personal devices or technology in your home. Please also use the OK2Say statewide website to share/report any suspicious activity.

 

 

Dr. Brian Davis, HPS Superintendent

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