Caleb Moore, a 14-year-old boy from El Dorado, Kansas, died by suicide after being targeted in an online sextortion scam. His mother, Morgan Moore, has shared their story to warn others about the dangers of social media predators.
Caleb believed he was talking to a girl his age and exchanged private photos with her. The situation took a dark turn when the person began threatening to leak the images unless Caleb paid money.
Police found that Caleb first connected with the scammer on TikTok and then continued on Snapchat. Feeling trapped, Caleb sent a photo of a gun, pleading for the threats to stop, before tragically ending his own life.
Morgan said her son’s joy and hope vanished in just 35 minutes. She believes Caleb didn’t doubt his family’s support but felt powerless to stop the situation.
TikTok says direct messaging is off for users under 16, but Caleb’s profile details are unclear. Snapchat provides safety features for teens, but Morgan calls for stronger actions against fake accounts.
A GoFundMe page has been launched to help Caleb’s family. This tragedy highlights the urgent need for better online protections for children and teens.
