Warning: This article discusses suicide, which may be distressing for some readers.
A grieving mother has shared the heart-wrenching story of her 14-year-old son, Caleb Moore, who took his own life after falling prey to a ‘sextortion’ scam on social media.
Caleb, a teenager from El Dorado, Kansas, fell victim to a scam that his mother, Morgan Moore, is now warning other parents about. She has opened up about the tragic events and what authorities have disclosed to her.
Initially unaware of the circumstances, Morgan only knew her son had died by suicide, but she later learned the devastating details from police.
Morgan revealed that Caleb had been communicating online with someone he believed to be a girl his age. The individual sent Caleb revealing images and persuaded him to reciprocate, after which the tone of the interaction changed dramatically.
According to Morgan, authorities found messages indicating that the person began blackmailing Caleb, threatening to release the photos if he didn’t pay large sums of money.
Investigations revealed that Caleb’s interaction with the scammer began on TikTok and later moved to Snapchat, where the explicit images were exchanged.
Morgan believes that her son felt trapped and hopeless, leading him to take his life. She mentioned that Caleb even sent a photo of a gun in a desperate attempt to stop the threats.
She expressed that this harrowing interaction obliterated her son’s joy and optimism in just 35 minutes.
In response, TikTok assured LADbible Group that they are dedicated to ensuring a safe and positive environment for teenagers and highlighted that direct messaging is disabled for users under 16.
There remains uncertainty about whether Caleb had correctly listed his age on the platform.
Morgan argues that both TikTok and Snapchat need to enhance their monitoring systems to prevent such fraudulent accounts from operating.
Snapchat emphasized that they offer robust safety settings for users aged 13-17 and provide a Family Safety Hub on their website to assist families in navigating the app safely.
Morgan lamented, “These people exploit what a 14-year-old boy might feel vulnerable about – their sexuality, family, and social standing.”
She continued, “I don’t believe Caleb thought we wouldn’t help him; I think he felt that we just couldn’t fix it and it would be his fault, none of which is true.”
“The most heart-wrenching loss is that of a child; now, I’m experiencing it, and it was utterly avoidable,” she added.
“It’s so cruel and anonymous. While the police are making efforts, the chances of them identifying the scammer are slim.”
To assist Caleb’s family with funeral expenses, a GoFundMe has been organized, and contributions can be made here.
LADbible Group has reached out to Snapchat for additional comments.
If you or someone you know is facing a mental health crisis, Mental Health America offers support. You can call or text 988 or visit 988lifeline.org. The Crisis Text Line is also available by texting MHA to 741741.
If immediate mental health assistance is needed, contact the National Suicide Prevention Helpline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). The helpline is a free, confidential service available 24/7 to anyone in need.