'Sextortion' explained after 15-year-old boy tragically dies just 3 hours after being targeted

Warning: This article contains discussion of suicide which some readers may find distressing.

An increasing number of teenagers are being exploited by a scam known as 'sextortion', with the death of 15-year-old Bryce Tate bringing renewed attention to the horrific crime.

This form of extortion has been shown to have fatal consequences, with a number of suicides across the country being attributed to the extreme pressure these conmen apply to teenagers, including 15-year-old Bryce.

The basketball-loving teen received a text from an unknown number just after returning to his family home from the gym at 4.37pm on November 6. Three hours after this text arrived, Bryce was found dead in his father's den.

He had unwittingly fallen victim to a 'sextortion' scam, where criminals posed as a flirtatious peer to gain his trust and private pictures, going to extreme lengths to secure his confidence - including where he worked out and who his friends were.

Tens of thousands have fallen victim to sextortion scams this year (Getty Stock Image)

Adam Tate, the teen's father, told NY Post: “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.”

He detailed how these 'demons' had gone to great effort to win over his son's trust, a common factor in sextortion cases. “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."

With many teens more isolated than ever before, this tactic continues to be effective for the scammers, who 'built his trust to where he believed that this was truly somebody in this area.'

Investigators believe that another girl in the area had been extorted by the scammers, who then used her photos to encourage Bryce to send pictures in response.

When they received them, they threatened to send them to his family and friends if he did not do what they said.

Bryce had been pressured to hand over just $500, an amount which would seem impossible to many teenagers.

Adam told 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.”

But these sextortionists don't give up until they have received the funds, often applying high-pressure tactics to the vulnerable teens to make them feel like the problem cannot be ignored and won't go away.

Bryce received a staggering 120 messages in the 20 minutes before his death.

The crime is on the rise (Kanawha County Sheriff's Office)

This has become an increasingly worrying trend, with the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children reporting a huge spike in this crime during the first half of 2025.

If you or someone you know falls victim to these 'demon' conmen, it is important to remember that what they are doing is a crime, and the authorities can help you.

Contact the FBI right away on 1-800-CALL-FBI, or report the extortion online at tips.fbi.gov. Then, record their details and block them on all platforms. Cooperating with a scammer is likely to only make the situation worse.

If you or someone you know is struggling or in a mental health crisis, help is available through Mental Health America. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org. You can also reach the Crisis Text Line by texting MHA to 741741.

If you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call National Suicide Prevention Helpline on 1-800-273-TALK (8255). The Helpline is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week.