MADISON, Wis. (WRN) — A group of Central Wisconsin state lawmakers introduce legislation to combat sextortion, which is scammers targeting and coercing victims into sending explicit images.
Wausau area Representative Pat Snyder says the bill is in memory of 15-year-old high school student Brayden Bohn, who committed suicide after falling victim to sextortion.
“According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, there has been a huge increase in the number of cases involving kids and teens that’s being threatened and coerced into sending these explicit images online. And this is the prime that they now term sextortion,” Snyder said.
Fellow Republicans Brent Jacobson and Senator Cory Tomczyk have also signed on to the measure. Snyder says some Democrats have expressed support as well.