SHAWANO, WI – Shawano Police are warning families to stay alert as cyberbullying and online extortion incidents continue to surface in the community.
Police Chief Mike Musolff says a recent case reported locally shows just how quickly situations online can escalate. In some cases, investigators believe the messages may even originate from outside the United States.
“Some of these things that are out there are coming from outside of our country,” Musolff said. “We recently had one we believe is coming from Russia.”
Musolff says many of these incidents begin through social media platforms or messaging apps, where scammers and online predators may target young people who may not fully understand the risks involved.
He says parents play a critical role in helping prevent these situations by paying close attention to their children’s online activity and behavior.
“You watch your kids because if there’s some kind of change in their personality or things like that, check their phone,” Musolff said. “Find out what they’re doing on there.”
Musolff encourages families to have open conversations about internet safety and reminds residents to contact local law enforcement if they suspect someone may be the victim of cyberbullying, scams, or online extortion.
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