Belleville Police Service is warning the public about a recent influx of sextortion incidents involving youth.
Although they did not describe any specific incidents, police are encouraging parents to have ongoing open conversations with their children about internet safety and the risks of sharing private content online.
Sextortion is a type of online child exploitation where a suspect convinces a victim to share private or sexual photos or videos, generally over social media. Once the suspect has the content, they often threaten to share it with the victim’s friends, family or school unless the victim sends money, gift cards or additional content.
Belleville Police offer these tips about how to stay safe online:
- Be cautious when communicating with unknown persons online. If you don’t know the person in real life, you cannot confirm who they are on the other end.
- Never share intimate images or videos, even if you think you can trust the person.
- Be aware that any livestream can be surreptitiously recorded.
- Review and adjust your privacy settings on social media platforms to limit who can view your content and who can contact you.
- Do not store sensitive images or content on your devices or cloud accounts.
- Always trust your instincts. If something feels off, stop the conversation immediately.
