10/05/2025
Tonight, we received a call that underscores why our work matters so much. A 15-year-old Canadian teen reached out to us after becoming the target of a sextortion scheme that began on Discord and later moved off-platform to Telegram. Once the intimate image was shared, the trap was sprung.
To their credit, this teen did exactly what we wish more young people would do, they turned to a parent for help. Unfortunately, our experience shows that many don’t, held back by shame, fear of judgment, or worry that their parent or caregiver will overreact.
After contacting their parent, the family reached out to local police. They were told that nothing could be done beyond filing a report and assigning a case number. While it may be true that police cannot always identify or locate an offender, there is still much that can be done from a trauma-informed perspective to support victims in crisis. This is especially urgent when suicidal thoughts emerge, a reality we’ve seen too often. In Canada alone, at least five teenage boys we know of have died by su***de after being targeted by sextortion.
Even in the midst of his panic, this teen confided in trusted friends. One friend told him to call us. He searched for The White Hatter online, found our number, and reached out.
We spent just over thirty minutes with him on the phone. During that call, we walked him through our after-action protocol, helped him stabilize emotionally, and guided him from “red alert” panic to a calmer “yellow alert” state. At one point he broke down, started to cry, and said, “Thank you. You saved my life.” He said this because he had been seriously considering su***de as an option.
When people ask us why we do what we do, this is the reason. This is why we answer the phone, email, or text message. This is why we continue to educate, support, and stand beside youth, parents, and caregivers. Because sometimes one conversation can make the difference between despair and hope.
Parents and Caregivers, talk to your kids about sextortion, not just once but multiple times. More importantly, give them a big hug tonight and let them know that no matter what happens in their life, no matter how bad something may be, you will still love them unconditionally, and will not overreact to any kind of disclosure, and that they can always come to you for help!
The White Hatter
