Seattle detectives running Washington's Internet Crimes Against Children task force say 2025 has turned into a flood of online child-exploitation tips, with more than 20,000 suspected reports so far. They say sextortion schemes and encrypted messaging apps are among the fastest-growing threats, while predators hide behind fake profiles and jump from platform to platform, making it tougher for investigators to keep up.
The Seattle Police Blotter, which notes that Seattle police lead the Washington ICAC task force, reports that detectives are now getting about 2,000 CyberTip referrals from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children every month. At that pace, they would see roughly 24,000 tips a year, which helps explain the crushing caseload. The volume forces the unit to triage which leads they can work themselves, push many investigations out to local departments across the state, and lean heavily on regional partners for follow-up. The Seattle Police Blotter details how those tips get routed and prioritized.
How predators reach kids online
“The number of tips keeps climbing and predators are finding new ways to reach kids,” Lt. Ben Morrison said, as reporting notes the task force has sent out nearly 2,500 investigations statewide and opened roughly 156 new cases in 2025. Sgt. Shawn Martinell added that “teenage boys are falling for sextortion scams and are being extorted for money after sending images,” a pattern that helps drive the surge in referrals and the need to move quickly when a report comes in. Offenders often pose as peers, then ratchet up requests for explicit images or cash using encrypted apps or disappearing messages, as documented by KGW.
How grooming and sextortion unfold
“Online grooming often begins with harmless-seeming compliments and attention,” forensic psychologist Dr. Stacy Cecchet told KGW, explaining that predators typically build trust first, then pivot to asking for images or money. Investigators urge parents and caregivers to save messages and screenshots, file reports with the CyberTipline, and contact local law enforcement if they suspect a child is being targeted. They also recommend watching for red flags like kids guarding their devices, staying up late messaging, or suddenly pulling away from family and friends.
Resources and next steps
Nationally, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children has logged tens of millions of CyberTipline reports in recent years and offers tools to help families report abuse and request removal of explicit material. The FBI has also warned about a rise in financially motivated sextortion aimed at teens and urges families to bring those schemes to law enforcement. For immediate help or to file a report, families can use the NCMEC CyberTipline and review the FBI's guidance on sextortion.
Arrests and prosecutions
Seattle ICAC detectives report making dozens of arrests this year and, according to the Seattle Police Blotter, have assisted in more than 75 ICAC arrests across the Puget Sound region since January 2025. Those cases often require lengthy digital forensics and coordination with multiple agencies. Prosecutors review device data, chat logs, and victim statements before deciding on charges, and outcomes can vary widely depending on the strength of the evidence and the specific offenses involved.
