It’s a scenario that’s become a silent nightmare in homes across the country. A teenager, maybe your own, is on their phone, smiling at messages that pop up. But in a matter of hours, that smile can turn to panic and terror. This isn’t just online drama; it’s a dangerous and sometimes deadly criminal scheme called “sextortion,” and it’s increasingly targeting teens where they feel safest: their phone’s text messages.

Tragic stories, like those of Elijah Heacock, David Gonzalez Jr., and Jack S...