News release from South Simcoe Police
The South Simcoe Police Service is reminding residents that sextortion scams are still circulating in our communities.
This week, two men reported incidents to the police, but both did not pay the suspects.
Sextortion frauds typically happen on social media or online dating sites. These incidents usually start with a message from an unknown sender to a victim which leads to private conversations in applications such as Snap Chat or Instagram. The suspect will then attempt to extort the victim for money after obtaining intimate images or video through the chat. The scammers threaten to share the images and video with the victim's family, friends and contacts unless the victim pays them a sum of money.
The South Simcoe Police Service would like to remind our residents of the importance of safe internet practices to avoid becoming the victim of such scams.
Some tips include:
-Do not to engage in conversations with strangers.
-Never share intimate images or videos online.
-Never send money to people you don't know.
This fraud relies on the fear and embarrassment of victims to prevent them from telling anyone what happened. If you are being extorted, report it to police immediately. We are here to help. Parents please discuss online safety with your children. Visit the CyberTip.ca website to learn more about sextortion.
