FLORIDA — As the new school year begins, Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody is warning parents of sextortion and to be more aware of their children’s social media usage.

Child pornography and sextortion may be linked to human trafficking, according to Moody, and anyone from anywhere can pretend to be your child’s friend.

A man from North Port, Fla., was recently sentenced to 13 years in prison for targeting a young boy in New Jersey on two social media apps by pretending to be a teenage girl, according to the attorney general’s office.

Shane Penczak, a 45-year-old man, targeted the victim on the social apps Discord and Roblox — both marketed for kids — by using the name “xboxdiamondgirl2683.” According to Moody’s office, Penczak enticed the boy to send nude photos by sending him an electronic gift card. He then blackmailed the victim into performing and sending videos of vulgar sexual acts, threatening to release the nude photos.

Investigators found other messages with several usernames and child sex abuse images in connection with Penczak’s “xboxdiamondgirl2683” account.

“This 45-year-old sex offender posed as a minor girl on online gaming sites to lure young boys into sending nude photographs to then blackmail the victims," Moody said. "As a mother, I am enraged at this offender’s actions, and I implore other parents to monitor their children’s internet usage and speak to them about online safety.”

Penczak pleaded guilty to eight felonies, including lewd or lascivious battery, use of a child in a sexual performance, promotion of a child in a sexual performance, possession of child pornography, use of a computer to solicit illegal acts and transmission of harmful material to a minor.

He was sentenced to 13 years in prison, followed by 15 years of sex-offender probation upon his release.

Florida's AG office urges parents to follow these tips to keep children safe online:

• Be aware of a child’s online activity

• Require children to make social media accounts private

• Prevent children from altering or using a fake date of birth to access sites that allow for communication with older individuals

• Explain that profiles may be altered online to appear as someone else

• Clarify that once something is sent on the internet, it never goes away

• Ensure that children know how to ask for help, even if the situation is uncomfortable

Moody has also provided an online safety toolkit for parents to help keep their children safe.