A recent ‘Sextortion’ case in Middlesex County has police reminding everyone not to send intimate photos or videos to strangers.
An 18-year-old was made to believe someone had acquired photos of them and was victimized of $4000. The victim met the person on a social media app.
There is always a risk in sharing any personal or sexually explicit images over the internet. Think twice before you send or post anything. Before you hit “send” remember that you cannot control where this image or video may travel.
The victim never shared intimate photos, however, was made to believe intimate images were captured from the phone they were using while engaged in conversation, at which time, the suspect began to threaten the victim the images would be shared to friends and family unless a fee was paid.
Fearing the photo would be sent to others, the victim sent $4,000 to the scammer.
“Sextortion”, as it is commonly referred to, is where people engage in sexually explicit conversations or “video chats” and one of the people involved, threatens the other that they will share the sexually explicit videos or images with the other parties family and friends unless they receive money. These scammers are using fake profiles on social media and dating websites to lure you into a relationship and coerce you into performing sexual acts on camera.
If someone starts demanding payment and threatening you regarding photos or videos, never pay the money, block them from all social media, screen shot messages they have sent you and immediately contact police.
If you are a victim of the sextortion scam call police at 1-888-310-1122 or the Canadian Anti-Fraud Center at 1-888-495-8501
For more information on current fraud trends please visit that Canadian Anti-Fraud Center at: http://www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/index-eng.htm
Written by Kyla Close