Reports of online 'sexual extortions' on the rise in North Vancouver, RMCP say
North Vancouver RCMP have issued a public warning after receiving an increase in reports of "sexual extortions" involving social media.
Authorities said the perpetrators usually try to coerce their victims into paying money or performing sexual acts on camera, sometimes in as little as 20 minutes.
"Scammers create fake profiles on social media and dating websites, which they use to lure a person into performing sexual acts on camera," North Vancouver RCMP said in a news release.
"The scammer records the session and threatens to send the image or video to family, friends and/or other people unless they receive money or additional sexual content."
It's unclear how many incidents have been reported over how long a timeline. Const. Mansoor Sahak told CTV News there has been a "spike" in cases recently, and that several are currently under investigation.
Officers from the North Vancouver RCMP Youth Intervention Unit will be giving presentations on the dangers of sexual extortion to local schools over the coming weeks, authorities said.
For now, the RCMP recommended that parents discuss the issue with their children.
Authorities said people can help protect themselves by strengthening their social media privacy settings, declining requests to share intimate images or videos, and trusting their instincts.
Victims of sexual extortion are advised to immediately stop all communication with the scammer, then deactivate – but not delete – the accounts they were using.
North Vancouver RCMP said victims should hold onto their correspondence, including the scammer's usernames and account information, and file a police report.
"Do not comply with the threat," the detachment added. "In other words, never pay money and never send additional nudes. The situation will not get better by doing either of these things."
Victims who have already sent money should check and see if it has been collected, then cancel the payment if possible, authorities said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
A 'tragedy that can't be measured': North Bay's forever chemical problem is also the rest of Canada's
For decades, North Bay, Ontario's water supply has harboured chemicals associated with liver and developmental issues, cancer and complications with pregnancy. It's far from the only city with that problem.
opinion How to use your credit card as a powerful wealth-building tool
Irresponsibly using a credit card can land you in financial trouble, but personal finance columnist Christopher Liew says when used properly, it can be a powerful wealth-building tool that can help grow your credit profile and create new opportunities.
Questlove was not happy with Drake and Kendrick Lamar's beef: 'Nobody won the war'
While some may have been excited and/or amused by the diss-track feud between Drake and Kendrick Lamar, the man many consider to be an elder statesman of hip-hop appears less than enthused about it.
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Bouchard lifts Edmonton Oilers to 4-3 overtime win over Canucks in Game 2
Evan Bouchard scored 5:38 into overtime and the Edmonton Oilers bounced back for a 4-3 win over the Vancouver Canucks in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs on Friday.
A renewed Russian offensive on Kharkiv in northeast Ukraine forces some 1,700 civilians to flee
Russian forces began a renewed ground assault in Ukraine's northeast, killing and injuring several people and forcing more than 1,700 civilians to evacuate from the Kharkiv region, officials said Saturday.
For moms-to-be, it's possible to take maternity leave without breaking the bank
Pregnancy is often an exciting and anxious time for parents-to-be. And while painting the nursery and choosing a stroller are typically on the agenda, experts say preparing financially for a maternity leave can help reduce stress later on as well.
Israel orders new evacuations in the southern Gaza city of Rafah as it prepares to expand operations
Israel ordered new evacuations in Gaza's southern city of Rafah on Saturday, forcing tens of thousands more people to move as it prepares to expand its operation and adding that it is also moving into an area in northern Gaza where Hamas has regrouped.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.