The FBI issued a national public safety alert Monday, warning of an "explosion" of online sexual extortion of children and teens, otherwise known as "sextortion."

The agency said it has received more than 7,000 reports of financial sextortion against minors over the past year and has recorded at least 3,000 victims of the crime, primarily boys, and more than a dozen suicides.

Sextortion is a type of online scheme where, in this case, children and teens are coerced into sending sexually explicit images and later blackmailed into paying to prevent the release of potentially graphic photos.

Most victims are between 14 and 17, but children as young as 10 have been targeted.

The FBI said it was issuing the national public safety alert now, since young students may be spending more time online as schools close for winter break.

"The FBI has seen a horrific increase in reports of financial sextortion schemes targeting minor boys—and the fact is that the many victims who are afraid to come forward are not even included in those numbers," FBI Director Christopher Wray said in a statement Monday.

"The FBI is here for victims, but we also need parents and caregivers to work with us to prevent this crime before it happens and help children come forward if it does. Victims may feel like there is no way out—it is up to all of us to reassure them that they are not in trouble, there is hope, and they are not alone."

The FBI and Justice Department said a large portion of the sextortion crimes originate in Nigeria and the Ivory Coast and are driven by "financial gain," not sex. The agencies advised parents and caretakers to remain vigilant over the holidays and to talk to children about the schemes "so we can prevent them in the first place."

"This is a growing crisis and we've seen sextortion completely devastate children and families," said Michelle DeLaune, CEO of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

"As the leading nonprofit focused on child protection, we've seen first-hand the rise in these cases worldwide," DeLaune said. "The best defense against this crime is to talk to your children about what to do if they're targeted online."

The schemes usually occur on social media platforms, gaming websites, and video chat apps, with online predators typically targeting minor males between 14 to 17 years old by using fake female accounts.

Most often the schemes occur on popular gaming websites and video chat apps, as well as social media platforms. Online predators typically target minor males between 14 to 17 by using fake female accounts.

The FBI says that in many cases, the images solicited from the child are released regardless if payment is sent or not, leaving victims full of shame, confusion, and fear. This cycle often prevents them from reporting the abuse or asking for help.

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children outlined steps parents and children can take if they are victims of sextortion. They emphasized the importance of young people feeling comfortable enough to report the abuse, as well as stressing the importance of contacting an adult before any payment is submitted.

They also said parents and children should block the account of the predator, but not delete any communication or profiles, because the associated data may be useful in guiding law enforcement investigations.

U.S.