CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — A Chillicothe Middle School student fell victim to an online sextortion scam after sending explicit images to an unknown individual on TikTok, according to a police report from the Chillicothe Police Department.
Officers were contacted on February 24 after the eighth-grade student reported the incident to authorities. The student stated that they had begun speaking with a presumed female on TikTok on February 22 before the conversation was moved to the messaging app Telegram. After sending an explicit image, the individual attempted to extort $30 from the student, threatening to release the photo if payment was not made.
The suspect also gained access to the student’s TikTok account by obtaining their email information. Further investigation by police revealed that the login activity occurred in the “West African Time” zone, suggesting that the scammer was operating from overseas.
Officers advised the student on online safety and the risks of interacting with unknown individuals on social media. Since the suspect is likely outside the country, police noted that prosecution is unlikely. The case has been forwarded to the appropriate jurisdiction for further review.