Online Sexual Abuse & Exploitation

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Online Predators in 2025 with Attorneys Ed and Molly | Fellerman & Ciarimboli

Recognizing the Danger: Red Flags in Online Messaging

Online sexual abuse and exploitation often begins in private messages, social media DMs, gaming platforms, or encrypted apps. It can involve grooming, sextortion (threats to expose explicit content), enticement, or coerced sexual conversation.

Here are some red flags that might indicate something is wrong:

• Conduct a thorough case evaluation to assess the details of your case and determine the best legal strategy
• Offer personalized legal advice and guidance at every step of your case
• Collect and preserve crucial evidence to support your claim
• Collaborate with medical and financial experts to understand the full impact of your injury
• Defend you against unfair tactics to blame you or undervalue your case
• Handle communications and negotiate with insurers to seek a fair settlement
• File a lawsuit and present your case to a jury if necessary

If any of these make you uneasy, it’s not your fault — those behaviors are tactics used by abusers and predators.

Real Examples (Without Identifying Details)

To help illustrate how these abuses unfold, here are scenarios we see as attorneys handling these cases:

• A young person is contacted by someone who compliments all their posts, asks what they look like, then demands explicit images, later threatening to share them if the victim refuses.
• Someone in a group chat starts making sexual comments, then privately messages a teenager asking them to join a video call “just for fun”, then shares the call or forces further requests.
• An adult posing as a peer befriends a vulnerable person online, earning trust over weeks, then ups demands — “Show me more”, “Don’t tell anyone”, “If you don’t, I’ll share what you already sent.”
• Images or video content already shared are circulated against the victim’s will. Or the abuser uses photos found online or AI-altered images to coerce new content.

These tactics are part of what’s called sextortion or online enticement.

Why a Legal Response Matters

Online sexual abuse doesn’t stay online. The harm is real, lasting, and deeply personal. As experienced Scranton personal injury and abuse lawyers with reach across Pennsylvania and beyond, Fellerman & Ciarimboli understand how to fight for victims of online exploitation and hold abusers accountable.

• We can help preserve evidence (messages, metadata, screenshots) so it can be used in your favor
• We understand the intersection of tort law, civil claims, and state/federal statutes in abuse cases
• We coordinate with law enforcement, child protection agencies, and forensic experts
• We protect your privacy and dignity at every stage

You are not alone. Even when the abuse feels secret, we treat every case with urgency, compassion, and strength.

A Safe, Confidential Way Forward

We know how vulnerable it can feel to reach out. You might worry about judgment, retaliation, or exposure. In this moment, you deserve to feel heard, believed, and protected.

That is why this page includes a secure, confidential web form — no pressure, no commitment, no shame. You can share what you feel safe sharing. We will respond with care, respect, and clear guidance about your options.

You don’t have to carry this alone. Contact us today. We will stand with you, fight for your rights, and work to seek justice.

Contact Fellerman & Ciarimboli About Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation

Online sexual abuse and exploitation can leave survivors feeling isolated, afraid, and unsure of what to do next. If you or someone you care about has been targeted through direct messages, social media platforms, or any online interaction, Fellerman & Ciarimboli is here to help.

With over 100 years of combined experience and more than $500 million recovered for victims and their families, our team understands how to pursue justice in complex, deeply personal cases. We handle these matters with discretion, compassion, and unwavering commitment to our clients.

You are not alone, and you are not without options. We offer a confidential case evaluation to help you understand your rights and take the first step forward. Contact our team today by using the secure form on this page.