A man from Texas has been arrested for allegedly blackmailing a teenager from Naperville in a case of “sextortion.”
Cody Ratliff, 39, from Kerrville, Texas, was taken into custody on February 9. He has been charged with felony intimidation, according to the Naperville Police Department.
Police say that in February 2023, Ratliff pretended to be a 16-year-old girl and tricked a 16-year-old boy into sending nude photos online. After receiving the pictures, Ratliff reportedly threatened to share them unless the teen sent him money through electronic payments.
He also found the teen’s friends and family on social media and used that information to make additional threats, warning that he would send them the pictures if the teen didn’t comply. Feeling scared, the teen paid him, but Ratliff allegedly continued to demand more money.
Naperville Police Chief Jason Arres explained that this type of crime, called “sextortion,” is becoming more common. Over the past two years, 27 cases of sextortion have been reported to the Naperville police, with almost half of the victims being underage.
“This is a growing problem that every family should be aware of,” said Chief Arres. “Parents, please talk to your children about their online activities. It’s important to protect them from criminals who take advantage of the internet’s anonymity to target their victims.”
Authorities are urging anyone who has been in a similar situation to contact Naperville police at (630) 420-6666.
Sextortion is a serious crime where predators trick or threaten people into sending explicit images, then use those images to demand money or more pictures. Cases like this highlight the dangers of sharing personal information or photos online.
To stay safe, young people should be cautious when talking to strangers on the internet and never send private photos to anyone they don’t fully trust. Parents should have open conversations with their children about internet safety and encourage them to report any suspicious behavior.
The police continue to investigate this case and are working to spread awareness about the dangers of sextortion. If you or someone you know is facing a similar situation, reach out to law enforcement for help.
