Sheriff’s Office warns of online predator targeting local teens

Someone is targeting Southern Colorado teen girls online, and blackmailing them to send nude photos.

Detectives believe this person most likely lives overseas and is using photos of someone else to lure female victims, primarily ages 12-15, into sending real photos of themselves.

According to the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office, the online predator is going by the name “Alex Levin”.

Detective Jason Darbyshire say the person asks the victim for an ordinary photo, then threatens to Photoshop their face onto a pornographic photo if they don’t send naked pictures.

“And once things are on the internet, unfortunately you can’t take them back,” said Darbyshire.

Most parents KRDO spoke with Monday said they believe their kids are capable of recognizing an online threat, but they also admit it’s hard to keep up with all their kids’ online activity.

Brandon Bear said, “They use the internet on their cell phones. We never know what they’re really doing on the internet.”

David Barrows added, “That’s one of my biggest fears now for my kids growing up, the accessiblity.”

Among other tips, internet safety experts recommend parents:
-keep computers in common areas
-share any email or social media accounts with their kids
-teach their kids not to send personal information or photos to strangers

Click here for more internet safety tips from Children’s Hospital Colorado.

“If you don’t know who someone specifically is, then there’s no reason for you to be accepting a friend request from them,” said Darbyshire.

Investigators have notified the local FBI office about the predator, believe there are likely victims across the nation.