Warning: This article contains discussion of suicide which some readers may find distressing.
The issue of ‘sextortion’ is causing a growing concern among parents and authorities, with the tragic case of 15-year-old Bryce Tate highlighting the severe consequences of this exploitative crime.
This type of blackmail has led to several suicides nationwide, with young Bryce being one of the unfortunate victims.
After returning home from the gym on November 6, Bryce, a teenager with a passion for basketball, received a text message from an unfamiliar number. Tragically, within three hours of receiving this message, Bryce was discovered deceased in his father’s den.
Unbeknownst to Bryce, he had become ensnared in a ‘sextortion’ scam. Fraudsters, pretending to be a peer, manipulated him into sharing personal pictures by creating a false sense of camaraderie, even learning details about his gym routine and friends.
Speaking to NY Post, Adam Tate, Bryce’s father, expressed his grief and anger: “They say it’s suicide, but in my book it is 100 percent murder. They’re godless demons, in my opinion. Just cowards, awful individuals, worse than criminals.”
Adam explained how these deceitful individuals meticulously constructed a web of trust around his son, a tactic frequently seen in sextortion incidents. “They acted like a local 17-year-old girl. They knew which gym he worked out at, they knew a couple of his best friends and name-dropped them. They knew he played basketball for Nitro High School.”
The isolation many teenagers feel today makes them prime targets for scammers, who manipulate them into believing the interaction is genuine. “They built his trust to where he believed that this was truly somebody in this area,” Adam said.
Authorities suspect that another girl in the vicinity was similarly deceived into sharing her pictures, which were then used to coerce Bryce into providing his own.
Upon receiving Bryce’s photos, the scammers threatened to distribute them to his acquaintances if he failed to comply with their demands.
The perpetrators extorted Bryce for $500, a sum that is daunting for most teenagers to procure.
Adam recounted to the Post: “My son had 30 freaking dollars and he’s like, ‘Sir, I’ll give you my last $30.’ And these cowards wouldn’t take it.”
These fraudsters relentlessly pursue their victims until they receive payment, exerting immense pressure on vulnerable youths, making them feel the situation is dire and unavoidable.
In the 20 minutes preceding his death, Bryce was bombarded with 120 messages.
The National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children has recorded a sharp increase in these crimes during the first half of 2025, showing it’s an alarming trend.
If you or anyone you know is targeted by these unscrupulous conmen, remember that their actions are criminal, and law enforcement can intervene.
Contact the FBI without delay at 1-800-CALL-FBI, or report the extortion through their online system at tips.fbi.gov. Make sure to document their information and block them on all social media platforms. Cooperating with such scammers usually exacerbates the problem.
If you or someone you know is in distress or facing a mental health crisis, support is available through Mental Health America. Reach out by calling or texting 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org. The Crisis Text Line can also be accessed by texting MHA to 741741.
If immediate mental health support is needed, contact the National Suicide Prevention Helpline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). This Helpline is a free, confidential service available 24/7 to everyone.