An older woman demanded nude photos from Minnesota teenagers, then extorted money from them, and authorities say she may have been involved in other similar scams.
Stephanie Godby, 70, of Tennessee, allegedly contacted a 17-year-old boy in Anoka County, persuaded him to send nude photos of himself, then threatened to forward the lewd photos to his friends and family unless he paid more than $2,000 into her Venmo account. Fox 9 Minneapolis-Saint Paul reported..
Local police, who were notified about the scam in 2022, said the elderly suspect may have had other prey: Subpoena records show Godby's Venmo account received similar payments from people across the country, Fox said.
One such transaction was accompanied by the message: “Keep your hands off my husband forever. This is all you'll get from me,” according to records.
Authorities say the Minnesota victim, now 19, initially sent $1,700 to Godby's Venmo account in exchange for keeping the photos, but the demands for cash continued.
By the time deputies began their investigation, he had sent a total of $2,204.54, according to Fox News.
Authorities linked Godby's date of birth, Social Security number, phone number and address to the Venmo account in question, which is registered as @sigodby, but have yet to find her.
Godby was acquitted of charges of theft by coercion and fraud.
