A report of a scam making the rounds.
Provincial Police in Dryden received a report of a so-called “sextortion” scam on Thursday.
This is a form of extortion where an online blackmailer uses the threat of publishing or sending intimate images or videos to contacts, unless the victim meets their demands.
In this incident, a victim was communicating with an unknown person on social media and exchanged intimate images with the suspect. The suspect threatened to distribute the intimate images of the victim publicly if the victim did not send a certain amount of money.
OPP remind the public to follow safe internet practices.
Prior to engaging in conversations stop and think are you putting yourself at risk? Does it sound too good to be true? Remember to respect yourself as well as others.
If something similar happens to you, stop all communication with the person and do not comply with the threats. Contact police who can provide advice on the next steps to take. Also, take screenshots, and keep copies of the messages and information such as the username.
For more information on frauds, visit the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
For more information about online safety, especially for children and teens, visit Canadian Centre for Child Protection
