Families in Bronxville, Eastchester and Scarsdale are among those the Westchester County District Attorney's Office is urging to talk with children about internet safety before the new school year begins, a push that follows a sextortion case involving an Eastchester school official.

District Attorney Susan Cacace's office issued the advisory Monday, Aug. 24, warning that criminals are using social media, gaming platforms and messaging apps to target young people through deception, harassment, extortion and exploitation. The county has 40 school districts.

"I urge parents to stay vigilant and monitor their children's social media and internet activity," Cacace said in an Aug. 13 statement tied to a separate child exploitation arrest. "Make sure your children understand the dangers of sharing explicit images online, especially with people they do not know."

The advisory follows local cases. In 2025, Eastchester school official and football coach Thomas Puccini was arrested by the DA's office in a sextortion case. That investigation led to federal charges of sexual exploitation of a child and possession of child pornography, according to a DA press release.

The DA's High Technology Crime Squad investigates internet crimes against children, including referrals from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children and the New York State Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. In August, the squad charged a Lakeland School District cafeteria worker with promoting and possessing child sexual abuse material.

Free presentations for schools

The DA's office offers free safety presentations for schools, youth programs and community organizations. Topics include social media safety, sextortion, cyberbullying, school threats, teen dating violence and substance abuse, according to the office's Instagram post on Aug. 21.

The initiative also comes as New York State finalized regulations for the SAFE for Kids Act on July 28. That law bars tech companies from feeding algorithm-driven content and sending late-night notifications to minors without parental consent. Companies must comply by Jan. 25, 2027, or face fines of $5,000 per violation.

Schools and community groups can schedule a free presentation by calling the DA's Community Affairs Office at (914) 995-3317. Residents can report tips to (914) 995-TIPS (8477).