We'd like to make the public aware of cases of cyber extortion. Between January and May 2020, the Police Department received 49 reports, totaling at least $50,000 in losses.
In such cases, the perpetrators are likely to befriend victims on social media or dating-related platforms. Victims would then be invited to participate in a video chat in which they would be asked to perform sexual acts that would be considered compromising. The perpetrators were secretly recording the session and using the recordings to threaten victims into transferring money to them in order to prevent the victims' videos from being released.
In some cases, the perpetrators have threatened victims with compromising photographs that the victims had shared with them, or doctored photographs taken from the victims' social media accounts.
We'd like to make the public aware of cases of cyber extortion. Between January and May 2020, the Police Department received 49 reports, totaling at least $50,000 in losses.
The following crime prevention measures are recommended for the general public:
• Be wary of strangers who make online friends with you.
• Don't engage in compromising sexual acts while online. You have no idea who is watching, and the conversation could be taped.
• Never post obscene photos or videos of yourself online because they could end up in the wrong hands.
• Ignore any payment instructions and do not send money to anyone who tries to extort money from you.