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July 13, 2023 - 4:56 PM
Kelowna RCMP are seeing an increase in the number of reports of sextortion involving boys between the ages of 14 and 17.
“Victims are receiving friend requests through popular social media services, then engage in conversations which usually include compliments and flirtatious exchanges,” says an RCMP news release issued today, July 13. “Offenders will then ask for an intimate image of the victim, specifically to include their face.
“Once the intimate image is sent, the offender begins threatening and attempting to extort the victim. The offender will demand money from the victim and threaten that if it is not sent, the image will be shared on the internet. In some cases, even if money is sent the demands will only increase.”
The release doesn’t say how many reports RCMP are getting but does note that the increase may be due to youth spending more time online during summer break.
“It is recognized that the number of reported incidents to the police is not a true representation of this crime likely due to the personal nature of these incidents and reluctance to report them for fear of embarrassment,” Cpl. Tim Russell, of the RCMP’s vulnerable persons unit, says in the release.
“Our message is simple – don’t share sexually explicit images with anyone, especially online as you have now forfeited complete control of that image.”
He also notes that sextortion often originates from outside Canada and recommends getting information from the Canadian Centre for Child Protection here.
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