Royal Canadian Mounted Police Says, "Sextortion: It's a Scam. It's Trending. You Can Make It Stop!"
“The unfortunate truth is that this type of crime is trending...It is a crime where anyone, including children, can be victimized through their phones, gaming consoles and computers. They can be targeted in their homes, their classrooms, and in other public places. This serves as a good reminder to practice online safety by using privacy settings on social media accounts and to not add or follow people unknown to you.”
Today on Cybertip Awareness Day, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) is encouraging everyone to learn what financial sextortion is, to understand how to protect yourself and those around you, and know how to report this crime.
Financial sextortion is a form of blackmail that involves someone online threatening to send a sexual image or video of you to other people if you do not pay them.
The unfortunate truth is that this type of crime is trending. It is a public safety crisis for Canadians, specifically our youth. It is a crime where anyone, including children, can be victimized through their phones, gaming consoles and computers. They can be targeted in their homes, their classrooms, and in other public places. This serves as a good reminder to practice online safety by using privacy settings on social media accounts and to not add or follow people unknown to you.
While everyone is at risk of financial sextortion, recent findings suggest that young boys have represented the majority of cases in the last year. According to Cybertip.ca, Canada's tip line, 91% of sextortion incidents affected boys. It is important to remember that while boys represent the majority of reported victims, anyone can be victimized. Also remember that you are not alone – if this has happened to you, there is help and there is life after images.
What to do if you are being financially sextorted:
