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The Kenora OPP is warning the public about a string of scams involving social media and the exchange of sexually-explicit photos.
Police say they’ve received several calls of people being befriended on social media platforms, the person then begins a conversation which turns sexual in nature and leads to the request of sexually-explicit photos.
The OPP says once the pictures are exchanged, the person on social media will threaten to share the photos with all of the victim’s contacts and family – if an amount of money is not e-transferred to the fraudster.
The OPP says people have given thousands of dollars, and the fraudsters do not stop until the victim is broke.
Police note victims tend to be males in their teens and thirties, but anyone can be targeted. The OPP is asking parents to talk to their kids and warn them of the dangers of online sharing of pictures and information.
If you find yourself in a similar situation, the OPP says you should never give the fraudster any money, report the profile on the social media site, and contact police immediately at 1-888-310-1122.