The FBI is out with a warning to parents about a rise in sextortion crimes that have been reported in recent years.

The FBI is out with a warning to parents about a rise in sextortion crimes that have been reported in recent years. But more and more often, its not sexual gratification thats behind the demand for pictures, and its not always young girls who are being pressured into providing more graphic content.

Instead, crooks living overseas are asking their victims for money, and their targets tend to be teenage boys who might not have a lot. The FBI said it received over 13,000 reports for those types of crimes just between October of 2021 and March of 2023, and at least 20 of the victims ended up committing suicide after they were targeted.

Often times, the crooks have posed as teenage girls while scamming people from not just the United States, but various countries in west Africa, Southeast Asia and the rest of the world.

Supervisory Special Agent Amy Ferron, who investigates crimes against children for the FBIs Baltimore Field Office, said it all happens faster than you think.

It may be one image, and thats all it takes, Ferron said. Within seconds or a minute, theyve issued a threat.

Most of the time, victims are between 14 and 17 years old, but theyve been as young as 11. Asking prices can start out in the thousands of dollars and get negotiated down, but the threat that the pictures will be sent to friends and family or just posted online, will always be there. Theres no buying your way out of it.

What really happens next is they say they want more money, Ferron said. If they did send some money, then they might come after them looking for more money. So theres really no way to satisfy the offenders demands.

Its a trend thats been noticed by online safety groups as well.

This is criminal gangs that have figured out a way to extract money from boys and young men in a way that we just hadnt seen before, said Stephen Balkam, founder and CEO of the Family Online Safety Institute. Its a financial exchange that the gangs are looking for, rather than what weve always thought about with sexting.

He said an added difficulty is the tendency of boys to shut down and keep the problem to themselves out of shame.

Agent Ferron said kids can be approached on just about any platform, whether its social media, messaging apps or even online video games. She said its important for parents to start talking to their kids about this even earlier than you might think is necessary, since kids are getting phones, tablets and playing online games at younger and younger ages.

Theres unfortunately this mass group of victims that can be found pretty much anywhere there is an internet connection, application platform, gaming systems, you name it, Ferron said. Wherever theres some capability to be able to connect with people from all over the world, you can find predators that may be looking for vulnerable victims.

One of the things Ferron stressed was the need for teens to be skeptical when someone suggests taking the conversation to a different platform where more privacy is afforded.

Another platform is going to allow them to be able to send that material back and forth, Ferron said. So we say thats a big red flag, if someone is trying to move you to another platform, thats where you want to at least have a little more scrutiny. Proceed with caution. We want to say dont do it. Go tell an adult.

It starts by having conversations you may not be ready for, and not just because it involves sex.

Oftentimes, parents are actually even more prepared to talk about sex to their kids than they are about technology because they feel somewhat at a loss or at a disadvantage, Balkam said. But its just a must-have conversation and a way of explaining to your kids what your values are as a family, what you do and dont expect from them, and the privilege of having a phone.

And Ferron said the last thing you want to do is blame the child and get upset with them.

These are kids. Theyre minors. Theres a ton of different chemical things that are going on, particularly with boys in this situation, she said. They cant project out, maybe see around corners, the brains are just not fully developed yet to be able to make those determinations.

Ferron added, You have to have an environment where they feel comfortable and safe to come and talk to you about this.

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FBI reports big rise in sextortion and the targets and motivation might surprise you - WTOP

The price of one whole Bitcoin (BTC) can deter potential investors who are hesitant to buy only a fraction of the cryptocurrency due to unit bias psychology, which favors owning complete units, according to VanEck adviser Gabor Gurbacs. He suggests that Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETF) are a solution to this challenge.

In a series of posts on X (formerly Twitter), Gurbacs stated that many people are still unaware they can own a part of a Bitcoin and suggested there are even more individuals who prefer to own only complete assets:

Furthermore, he reiterates that it seems more appealing to investors to own a whole asset than a fraction.

Owning a full share feels better than owning 0.001 Bitcoin. Seems like a small thing but its a big thing, he stated.

Although Gurbacs recognizes that this debate is not new, he argues that biases represent one of the most valuable tools for understanding markets.

Simplistic but unit bias psychology matters a lot. I think about this a lot, he further added.

Related: BlackRock to slash 3% of workforce ahead of Bitcoin ETF deadline: Report

Meanwhile, the crypto industry is filled with high expectations that the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) will greenlight a spot Bitcoin ETF in the upcoming week.

However, the broader financial services industry is more skeptical of the chance it will happen.

In a recent survey by Bitwisewith responses from 437 financial advisers, just 39% of U.S. financial advisers anticipate the approval of a Bitcoin ETF in 2024.

Cointelegraph recently reported that the final steps for a spot Bitcoin ETF debut on Wall Street are in progress, with final revisions from asset managers expected by the morning of Jan. 8.

The revisions must be submitted through S-1 filings before the start of business, and applicants are expected to reveal the remaining fees and tickers.

BlackRock has not yet disclosed the fees associated with its ETF.

Magazine: 10 best long reads about crypto in 2023

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Bitcoin ETFs will solve unit bias psychology, says VanEck adviser - Cointelegraph

YOUR HEALTH

From March 2020 until May 2023 when it was declared over, the COVID-19 pandemic had chokehold on all aspects of human existence, even threatening the very loss of humanity itself. Eventually, after three years of living in fear and uncertainty, the devastating threat of a global pandemic ended with the implementation of a successful mass immunization program.

The COVID-19 pandemic is the newest health crisis the world has faced in recent history. Prior to this, three of the most notable ones were the Black Death during the 13th century, the Spanish Flu in 1918 and the HIV/AIDs during the early 80s.

Health officials believe that any global public health challenge such as the outbreak of any infectious disease can be overcome by ensuring that every man, woman, child, and communities are protected through easy access to vaccines.

For the past 10 years and as part of global efforts to educate families and raise awareness about the importance of vaccines and immunizations, the National Public Health Information Coalition, in coordination with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, has designated August as National Immunization Awareness Month.

Public health experts see NIAM as a time for individuals, healthcare professionals, and communities to come together to champion the importance of vaccines in protecting public health and in saving lives. By using different platforms such as community events, lectures, and the distribution of hand-outs and educational materials, health care professionals aim to raise awareness about vaccines and why people of all ages should be on top of their vaccination schedule.

Information and resources about vaccines and immunization programs are easily available online or from the CHCC Immunization Program, outpatient clinics, or local healthcare providers on island.

The CDC also has online materials and comprehensive resources available for those who want to learn about vaccines and. Visit their site at http://www.cdc.gov.

For a global perspective on immunization, the World Health Organization offers resources and information about global vaccination efforts. Visit their site at https://www.who.int/health-topics/vaccines-and-immunization

Another website that provides information on vaccines, including a vaccine finder tool to help individuals locate vaccination clinics near them is http://www.vaccines.gov.

There are also advocacy organizations such as the Immunization Action Coalition and Vaccinate Your Family which offer advocacy resources and tools for individuals interested in supporting vaccination efforts.

Routine vaccinations during childhood and adolescence have proven to be the most effective tool for preventing and controlling the spread of infectious diseases. WHO considers immunization a global health and development success story, saving millions of lives, yearly.

WHO describes a vaccine as a means to prepare the bodys immune response against diseases. Vaccines are either administered orally or through a needle injection. The first successful vaccine was created on 1796 by Dr. Edward Jenner for smallpox.

Being vaccinated not only benefits individuals by protecting them from severe pain and at times death from preventable communicable diseases but, more importantly, it protects future generations. By reducing, if not totally getting rid of diseases such as measles and polio, newborns are spared the risk of being exposed to deadly diseases.

While history has already proven the effectiveness of vaccines in keeping communities safe, there are still those who delay or are hesitant to get vaccinated despite the availability and access to vaccination services. There are still misconceptions about vaccines and its effect and effectiveness.

Among the six common misconceptions about vaccination listed down by the WHO is that a childs immune system can be overloaded if the child receives multiple vaccinations all at the same time. This concern came about when the childhood vaccination schedule was expanded with the introduction of new vaccines. Numerous studies, however, show that the current recommended vaccines for infants are no more likely to cause harmful effects when given as a combination than when they are given separately.

There is also a misconception that children do not need to be vaccinated anymore from infectious diseases that have already disappeared such as polio and measles. While polio may have been wiped out in the United States since 1979, this disease is still widespread in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Only through vaccination can the spread of this deadly childhood disease be prevented.

Then there are also those who believe that natural immunity is better than a vaccine-acquired immunity while others believe that vaccines cause harmful side effects and even death.

The truth is vaccines are very safe and if there are any negative side effects, they are minor and temporary such as a sore on the arm or a slight fever that can often be controlled by taking paracetamol after vaccination.

Each of us can make a difference in protecting our community from the spread of certain communicable diseases that can threaten the very existence of humanity. We can do our part not just by ensuring we and our own families are on top of our immunization schedules. Most importantly, each of us can help by raising awareness and, by promoting equitable access to vaccines, we can protect public health and save lives. Get involved and be part of the effort to ensure a healthier future for all.

More:
Immunization: Taking action for a healthier future | Health & Fitness | saipantribune.com - Saipan Tribune

One of the best resolutions one can make, with regards to food choices in 2024 is that of the production and consumption of organic food items, such that your food becomes your medicine, as the Greek physician, Hippocrates (400 BC) rightly admonished mankind. But then we have to understand what organic food items are, their nutritional benefits to our bodies and the confessions of Dr. Olukemi Oyegbile whose ill health was saved by keying into organic foods. So, what is it really all about?

Organic food, also called ecological or biological food and drinks are produced using natural substances, without the use of synthetic chemicals, or genetically modified components. There is no use of man-made fertilizers, pesticides, growth regulators and livestock feed additives. There is avoidance of all artificial chemicals, hormones and antibiotics. There is mild exposure to heavy metals.

They are fresher, tastier, healthier, with outstanding flavour. They are more nutrient-dense and free of GMOs. And because they are nature-based and chemical-free they are more sustainable and preserve the environment. They promote heart health because they are truly rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, brimming full of vital vitamins and magical minerals. That explains why they are good for digestion and reduce the risk of cancer. They also reduce the risks of allergic diseases as well as reducing the risk of obesity.

All considered, it is interesting to note that the farming methods of our forebears in most parts of Nigeria, nay Africa are organic. They lived close to nature and studied and complied with its laws. They fed on largely natural food items. Are we, therefore, surprised that they lived much longer than we do these days? We should not put the key back into both the production and consumption of organic food items, similarly to what the Indians are currently practising.

To understand the impact that organic food has on ones health, let us learn from the true-life testimonies of Dr Olukemi Oyegbile, formerly a staff member of the United Nations Development Program UNDP, as she made at the Xtralarge Farms program to promote organic food, a few years back. In her words: This is the Lords doings and marvellous in our eyes. My Organic Food, My Medicine (Gen. 1 v. 29; PSM. 104 v. 14; Ezk. 47 v. 12, In Line With Gen 6:3. I was divinely led to see the gain from my pains of 40 years of allergic reaction to heat and dust in Nigeria on a Rescue Mission.

I was born a premature baby in the 50s but was fortunate that my mother who was born in 1920 had a Standard Six School Certificate. That was my saving grace that girl-child education made the then nurses who taught my mother did not understand English had to ensure that I was put in an incubator that was acquired 5 Days before I was born in the Mission Hospital.

So I did not have the opportunity to be breastfed with colostrum milk which should have conferred me with immuno globin to enable me to be desensitised from allergies. I started with childhood asthma. This stopped by itself at the age of 15 years. Thereafter, the allergic skin challenge started.

This was on for 40 years during which as a medical student back then in University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan in the 70s all was done to find a lasting solution. I was placed on steroids-based ointment that I could only use for a short period in order to avoid more serious side effects.

After my graduation as a medical doctor, I had opportunities to seek solutions in South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States of America. The same solution of steroid-based ointments as was in UCH, Ibadan with the same advice that it should be for a short while.

In October 2009 the Holy Spirit convinced me with Psalm 104: verse 14 to use organic supplements and organic food. Listed are the improvements made: 1. The challenge improved by 65% with the first organic supplement which was from the USA so availability stopped in the first quarter of 2017.

2. It improved to 75% with the use of another organic supplement that was from the USA but is no longer available because of Government policy.*

3. Perfectly cleared and 100% desensitised with Xtralarge Farms Organic Food stuff and herbs within 15 months.

4. I am totally free from allergic skin reactions, particularly my right leg which was the last being closest to sand.

_Thus, it took 14 years to be perfectly cleared and desensitised to organic supplements and foods.

There is a need to apply the triple Cs of Commitment, Consistency and Confidence.*_

The Take Home Messages are : 1. Girl-child education is very important in reducing childhood mortalities.

2. Grandparents and parents who are caregivers to newborn babies to ensure that they are fed with *COLOSTRUM MILK* which is available only within 24 hours after birth.

3. Use of drugs to treat symptoms which is like cutting a branch of an Iroko tree compared to Organic Supplements and Foods that take longer time to be very effective which is like uprooting the Iroko tree health challenge, therefore, the application of 3Cs is very important.

This is why I am so passionate about authentic organic food and herbs from a reliable local source like Xtralarge Farms with 100% INTEGRITY. I do not need to look for dollars for these organic foods and herbs.

In conclusion, if you have any chronic ailment and you are looking for rescue like I was in 2009, you are cordially invited to join us in Xtralarge Farms. Contact Dr OLUKEMI OYEGBILE on 08023144160.

Having heard from the horses mouth, it is important to understand what organic food is all about, the nutritional value to your body and health and take that all-important first step now.

Happy and blessed New Year to you all, my dear readers.

Link:

2024: Back to Organic Foods - Businessday

(AP Andrew Harnik, File) The SEC and the United States have filed two fraud cases against Utah-based crypto company SafeMoon and its three executives. Utah-based CEO John Karony was arrested in Provo.

| Dec. 19, 2023, 4:08 p.m.

| Updated: 6:25 p.m.

SafeMoon, a Utah-based cryptocurrency company that promised to take investors to the moon, is instead bracing for an earthly descent in federal court.

The company filed for bankruptcy late last week, court records show. Its three executives, including Utah CEO John Karony, face fraud criminal charges in New York District Court and separate fraud charges from the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A trustee for SafeMoon has asked a judge for temporary control over the business assets and operations in order to wind down operations and paying SafeMoon creditors, who are primarily former SafeMoon employees.

In a motion filed Sunday, trustee Ellen Ostrow proposed hiring former employees as independent contractors to assist in the liquidation of the Debtors assets. Doing so, the motion says, would make liquidation more efficient and maximize SafeMoons assets.

A judge Monday granted that motion, expediting SafeMoons bankruptcy hearing on a preliminary basis. Ostrow argued in the motion that it is crucial to the compensation of the employees to begin as soon as possible.

The motion allows Ostrow to access SafeMoons assets to pay employees for work done until Jan. 3, when a follow-up hearing is scheduled. The preliminary motion lets Ostrow pay employees what they are owed, said Judge Joel T. Marker, chief judge of the U.S. Bankruptcy Courts Utah district, but gives all parties time to address any concerns.

Ostrow argued in the motion that SafeMoon employees have historical knowledge of crypto assets that need to be converted to cash and that without them, there would be a loss of significant value to the detriment of the Debtors estate, since those former employees have valuable knowledge of the Debtors business.

According to the Chapter 7 bankruptcy filing, SafeMoon has between $10 million and $50 million in assets, and owes between $100,000 and $500,000. The company has between 50 and 99 creditors, court records claim, and is uninsured.

Karony and his co-executives, SafeMoon Chief Technology Officer Thomas Smith and founder Kyle Nagy, have been charged with criminal securities fraud conspiracy and wire fraud conspiracy; the SEC has separately charged them with fraud and selling unregistered crypto securities. In court documents, the three are accused of lying to investors and cashing in on millions of dollars worth of assets that were supposed to be locked.

Karony almost was released on bail under certain conditions in November, but New York District Court Judge Eric Komitee reversed that decision, according to court transcripts. Komitee said the conditions set by Utah District court Judge Daphne Oberg were insufficient, but that he would reconsider a bond request in the context of a more robust proposed bail.

Karony was denied bail again Dec. 6 and ordered to be moved from Salt Lake City, where he was detained following his arrest, to New York, where he will face trial in the states Eastern District Court.

Shannon Sollitt is a Report for America corps member covering business accountability and sustainability for The Salt Lake Tribune. Your donation to match our RFA grant helps keep her writing stories like this one; please consider making a tax-deductible gift of any amount today by clicking here.

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SafeMoon files for bankruptcy amid fraud accusations - Salt Lake Tribune

Alireza Firouzja, who wants to qualify for the Candidates Tournament via Elo with three matches scheduled at short notice, won two of these matches 2:0 and took the lead in the third match against Sergey Fedorchuk by winning the first game.

Firouzja's club C'Chartres Echecs is organising the match series with a total of six games from 18 to 22 December 2023 in Chartres. Spectators can watch the matches live on site at the Htellerie Saint-Yves (3, rue des acacias, 28000 Chartres, starting at 15.00 CET).

In the first two matches, Firouzja defeated Alexander Dgebuadze and Andrei Shchekachev both 2-0. A curious incident happened in the first game of the Shchekachev-Firouzja match: In an objectively equal position Shchekachev suddenly resigned, apparently because he overlooked a possible defence.

Firouzja has now overtaken Wesley So in the live rating list and would qualify for the Candidates as the player with the highest rating who did not already qualify for the Candidates by other means. However, Firouzja still needs to win the sixth game of the series. With a draw he would again fall behind So in the live rating list.

However, FIDE has stated that they will look very closely at the matches and then decide whether to rate the results.

There has been much criticism of the way in which these matches against older opponents with an Elo rating over 200 points lower were organised for the sole purpose of giving Firouzja the chance to gain enough rating points to make it to the Candidates. The US Chess Federation complained in an open letter to FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich (see below).

However, the actions of the organisers do not violate the current FIDE rules, though it seems that FIDE needs to come up with a better qualification system for the Candidates.

Games

In an open letter to FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich on 20 December, the US Chess Federation protested against these matches, which were organised on short notice, and demanded that Alireza Firouzja's games in these mini-matches should not be rated and that rules should be drawn up to prevent this kind of distortion of competition.

20 December 2023

Arkady Dvorkovich 1007 Lausanne, Schweiz Avenue de Rhodanie 54

Dear President Dvorkovich,

The United States Chess Federation is concerned about the conduct of the qualification tournaments related to the Candidates tournament. We believe that scheduling last-minute events to assist an individual player gain rating points to qualify for the Candidates tournament is neither sporting nor transparent, and it taints the selection process for FIDE and all of international chess.

As you know, we are supportive of the recent changes made to qualification for the cycle. We believe in the power of the biannual cycle to select the best players to compete. Just missing the qualification is no doubt frustrating for the players, but the cycle is intended to provide an open and fair competitive environment for all players. Organizing a last-minute event that is practically non-inclusive goes against the spirit of fair competition.

We continue to believe that when the final selections are made, the players should be those who throughout the cycle are most deserving of the honor of playing in the Candidates tournament. There will also undoubtedly be many great players who will miss out. Because of this, we believe it is imperative that the selection criteria are clear and transparent and have widespread support within the FIDE family.

We urge FIDE to not rate the French event and take steps to require that all FIDE events be registered at least 30 days in advance of their start date. This will reduce the amount of gamesmanship that thwarts the spirt of fair competition during the biannual qualification cycle.

Sincerely,

Randy Bauer US Chess President

Continue reading here:

The Way to the Candidates: Firouzja is getting closer - ChessBase

The United States Chess Federation is pleased to announce the 2024 All-America Chess Team. Team members will receive team jackets and plaques by mail.

The All-America Chess Team was created in 1987 to honor the very best players ages 18 and under. The team, one of the highest national honors attainable by a young chess player, is selected on the basis of age, rating, and chess activity during that year, similar to the selection process of all conference sports teams. This years candidates were selected based on their age as of January 1, 2023, and their peak post-tournament rating from July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023. Since this award is a post-season selection, the minimum rating limits in each age group are reviewed annually by US Chess staff and the US Chess Scholastic Council.

Image Caption

One ninth of the 2024 All-America Team at the awards ceremony on the final day of the 2023 K-12 Grade Championships (photo Caroline King)

The United States Chess Federation wishes to congratulate each of the 45 members (up five from last year!) of this years All-America Chess Team for receiving this outstanding award!

GM Andrew Hong, 2022 Weeramantry Blitz champion (courtesy of the subject)

Justin Wang ready to work his magic on the e-file (courtesy Lennart Ootes/SLCC)

Robert Shlyakhtenko (courtesy Deshaun Adams/Renaissance Knights)

IM Anthony He (courtesy Caroline King)

IM Kirk Ghazarian is in good company when it comes to missing the Tactic Of The Day (courtesy Austin Fuller/SLCC)

IM Jason Wang finished first on tiebreaks (photo Caroline King)

Last year's co-champ was this year's only 6/6 player in any of the five invitationals (photo Daniel Day)

Nico Chasin (photo David Llada)

IM Eddy Tian (photo David Llada)

Rohan Padhye (L) and IM Evan Park (photo David Llada)

Vyom Vidyarthi (photo Betsy Zacate)

FM Sandeep Sethuraman (David Llada)

Erick Zhao (courtesy Deshaun Adams/Renaissance Knights)

2022 Barber 3rd Place Winner FM Bach Ngo at the 2022 U.S. Open. Photo: Mark Cieslikowski

"We want Fabi!" the junior champion will face Caruana in a critical game for the standings (courtesy Lennart Ootes/SLCC)

Happy belated birthday to now-14-year-old Alice Lee (courtesy Austin Fuller/SLCC)

FM Brewington Hardaway broke the 2400 barrier and earned a GM norm in the process (courtesy Daniel Schipper/CCC)

Eric Liu with his championship medal.

courtesy Charlotte Chess Center

Woodward made waves with his upset of Niemann in their third-round clash (courtesy David Llada/FIDE)

IM-Elect Chen! (courtesy Elite Chess)

Ryan Sun (courtesy Deshaun Adams/Renaissance Knights)

Top-seeded Aiden Liu (CA) is perfect around two rounds in the K-5 Championship (photo Caroline King)

Ethan Guo, 2022 National K-8 Blitz Co-Champ

Kyle Dong (photo David Llada)

Linxi Zhu won the K-3 Blitz Championship outright, and is currently tied for first in the K-3 Championship (photo Caroline King)

2024 US CHESS ALL-AMERICA CHESS TEAM

Age 18 (Min. Rating 2500)

Andrew Hong

CA

Age 17 (min. rating 2475)

Justin Wang

TX

Robert Shlyakhtenko

CA

Balaji Daggupati

CA

Anthony Bi He

WA

Maximillian Lu

CT

Age 16(min. rating 2450)

Arthur Guo

GA

Christopher Woojin Yoo

CA

Jason Wang

OH

Nico Werner Chasin

NY

Kirk Ghazarian

CA

Eddy Tian

NJ

Age 15(min. rating 2425)

Evan Park

PA

Jason Liang

NY

Vyom Vidyarthi

CA

Sandeep Sethuraman

AZ

Eric Yuhan Li

CA

Age 14(min. rating 2400)

Dimitar Mardov

IL

Bach Ngo

FL

Erick Zhao

PA

Age 13(min. rating 2350)

Abhimanyu Mishra

NJ

Brewington Hardaway

NY

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2024 US Chess Federation All-America Chess Team Announced - uschess.org