As AI becomes a more common tool used by more and more people every day, the dangers it can lead to are still being explored.
This story is incredibly heartwrenching about how this young boy lost his life because of AI.
Keep reading to learn more.
16-year-old Elijah Heacock, of Glasgow in Kentucky, fell victim to a ‘sextortion scam’ earlier this year perpetrated by a fraudster.
The young boy was threatened with having his fake nudes leaked to people he knew if he did not wire the fraudster $3,000. Soon after, the teen died due to a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
After his death, his mother, Shannon Heacock, has been outspoken about what happened. The FBI think he fell subject to sextortion scam.
“Eli was on a good track. We had no reason to believe there was an issue at all. We knew nothing about sextortion or how it works,” Eli’s father John Burnett said.
In another interview he said, “The people that are after our children are well organized.
“They are well financed, and they are relentless. They don’t need the photos to be real, they can generate whatever they want, and then they use it to blackmail the child.”
His mother, Shannon shared that the scammers were blackmailing the teenager to pay them $3,000 and that he had sent them what little money he had.
Now, Eli’s family has to pay $30,000 in Eli’s medical bills for the hospital where he was being treated for his gunshot wound, which eventually led to his death, and also his subsequent funeral.
The family has set up GoFundMe to help with the expenses they have due to this unfortunate situation.
“Our beloved son Elijah Heacock was just 16 years old when we lost him to a devastating act of sextortion. Elijah was our world – the best son, a loving twin, and a cherished brother. He brought so much joy to our family and everyone who knew him,” it read.
“He loved his school, playing tennis, spending time with friends, and being part of our community. His kindness and energy touched so many lives, and his absence has left a hole in our hearts that can never be filled,” it went on.
“As we mourn Elijah, our family has faced overwhelming emotional and financial challenges. The loss of work and the mounting bills have made this time even more difficult. We never imagined we would be in this position, struggling to keep up with everyday expenses, while grieving such a profound loss. We are reaching out for support to help us get through these hardships and find some stability as we try to heal,” it said.
“We are deeply grateful for any help during this unimaginable time. Your support means more than words can express, and it will help us focus on remembering Elijah and caring for each other. Thank you for standing with us and honoring Elijah’s memory,” the grieving family wrote.
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