The OPP would like to warn the public of sextortion scams that are circulating within East Region and throughout Ontario.
Recent reports involve scammers contacting the victim online and threatening to share intimate photos of them unless the victim pays them a sum of money.
According to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, extortion frauds represented $17 million in reported losses in 2021 and over $16.4 million in 2020.
To protect yourself, OPP recommend you:
- Beware of unknown persons who attempt to communicate with you over the internet
- Never send money to people you do not know
- Never send compromising photos to anyone, regardless of who you may think the person is
- Cover web cameras when not is use
- Do not store sensitive/intimate images or information online or on your mobile device
- Use strong passwords and do not use the same password for multiple social media accounts/websites
- Ensure that security settings for social media accounts are activated and set at the highest level of privacy protection
- Report abuse to the various social media platforms, in order to ensure the scammers are held accountable and to prevent further victims.
If a scammer contacts you or if you have been defrauded, contact your local police service or the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501 or visit their website at www.antifraudcentre.ca.
