His 17-Year-Old Son Died by Suicide After a Sextortion Scam. Now He's Changing the Law.

Financial sextortion is targeting teenage boys at an alarming rate — and most families have never heard of it until it's too late. In 2022, 17-year-old Gavin Guffey fell victim to an online blackmail scam and died by suicide. His father, South Carolina State Representative Brandon Guffey, refused to let Gavin's death be the end of the story.Rep. Guffey is one of the driving forces behind Gavin's Law, one of the nation's first pieces of legislation specifically targeting financial sextortion — and he's now working to build momentum for similar protections at the national level.In this episode, Brandon shares who Gavin was as a person, how the scam unfolded, and what he wants every parent and teenager to understand about how these predators operate. He breaks down what Gavin's Law actually does, where the fight to hold tech platforms accountable stands today, and how families can get involved in protecting other kids.Key insight: Financial sextortion scams often move from first contact to blackmail within minutes — and the criminals specifically target teens who are least likely to tell a parent.Learn more about Rep. Brandon Guffey: https://info.bark.us/rep-brandon-guffeyFollow Brandon on Instagram: https://info.bark.us/brandon-guffey-igSupport Less Than 3: https://info.bark.us/less-than-3If this episode moved you, please leave a review wherever you're listening — it takes 30 seconds and helps other parents find us before they need this information.Join our Parenting in a Tech World Facebook community: https://info.bark.us/join-pitwLearn how Bark monitors for sextortion warning signs and alerts parents before a crisis escalates: https://www.bark.us/