---
title: "Webinar: Financial Sextortion"
---

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ON-DEMAND Webinar

# “Your life will be ruined”: How financial sextortion impacts youth and what we’re doing to rewrite the script

![Melissa headshot](https://info.thorn.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Email%20Signatures/melissa_200x200.jpg?width=200&height=200&name=melissa_200x200.jpg "Melissa headshot")

Melissa Stroebel  
VP, Research & Insights  
Thorn

![Kathryn headshot](https://info.thorn.org/hs-fs/hubfs/kathryn-rifenbark.png?width=200&height=200&name=kathryn-rifenbark.png "Kathryn headshot")

Kathryn Rifenbark  
Director, Survivor Services  
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children 

![Pam headshot](https://info.thorn.org/hs-fs/hubfs/pam-smith.png?width=200&height=200&name=pam-smith.png "Pam headshot")

Pam Smith  
VP, External Affairs  
Thorn

No child should have to endure the trauma of being blackmailed with their own private images. Yet, this growing and devastating form of exploitation is on the rise and devastating youth around the country. The impact is profound, with tragic consequences for some.

In this 45-minute pre-recorded webinar, Thorn’s Melissa Stroebel and NCMEC’s Kathryn Rifenbark will share with you everything we’ve learned about this growing and devastating form of child sexual exploitation from our groundbreaking study, “[Trends in Financial Sextortion: An Investigation of Sextortion Reports in NCMEC CyberTipline Data](https://www.thorn.org/blog/new-research-from-thorn-financial-sextortion-on-the-rise-targeting-teen-boys/).” 

You’ll leave this insightful discussion with these takeaways:

- **Awareness of the issue:** Learn about the alarming rise in financial sextortion cases, and the importance of awareness and prevention
- **Insights into exploitation tactics:** Understand how these manipulative schemes operate and the significant risks to youth
- **Support systems and resources:** Recognize the importance of support systems and know where to find help for victims
- **How to make a difference:** Discover the important role of cutting-edge technology in combating this form of child sexual exploitation and how you can help support it.

Join us to explore this urgent issue and learn how we can work together to protect our youth, and rewrite the script on financial sextortion. 

## Watch the webinar recording

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