- Ryan Last, 17, took his own life after a cybercriminal told him he would send naked pictures of the teen to his family and friends if he failed to pay $5,000
- The ‘sextortionist’ reached out to the high school senior and Boy Scout in February, pretending to be a girl and sent the teen naked pictures
- After Last sent explicit photos of himself back, the scammer revealed himself and demanded money from the 17-year-old’s college savings
- His mother, Pauline Stuart, said his suicide note revealed how afraid and embarrased he was about falling for the scam
- Last’s case is among a growing trend of overseas ‘sextoritonists’ targeting young boys in the US, with the FBI reporting more than 18,000 cases last year
- The criminals trick boys into sharing naked photos and then extort them for money, with the scammers stealing more than $13 million last year
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