Sault Ste. Marie police are issuing a warning after recent reports of people involved in sextortion and non-consensual intimate image sharing incidents in the city, states a news release issued today.
Sextortion happens when a person sends an intimate image and/or video to someone and is then threatened with the public release of the image or video unless the victim pays a demanded amount of money. Non-consensual image sharing is when someone consents to having an image taken
but does not consent to have the image shared with others.
Police gave the following tips in hopes to help people avoid becoming victims:
- DO NOT SEND INTIMATE IMAGES ON ANY APP OR SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM
- Ensure social media security settings restrict what strangers can see, especially photos
- If you are ever threatened online, contact police or cybertip.ca
- Never provide personal information to people online
For more information, see the full release below.
Officers continue to field reports of people involved in sextortion and non-consensual intimate image sharing incidents in our community.
Sextortion happens when a person sends an intimate image and/or video to someone and is then threatened with the public release of the image or video unless the victim pays a demanded amount of money. Non-consensual image sharing is when someone consents to having an image taken
but does not consent to have the image shared with others.
The internet and social media are integral parts of all our daily lives, but using online resources do present risks.
Predators are constantly looking for ways to exploit others in the online space. Using proactive measures is crucial to protect your information and images online.
- DO NOT SEND INTIMATE IMAGES ON ANY APP OR SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM
- Ensure social media security settings restrict what strangers can see, especially photos
- If you are ever threatened online, contact police or cybertip.ca
- Never provide personal information to people online
Following these tips will greatly reduce the odds of becoming a victim of sextortion.
Parents and guardians, the online space is evolving, be aware of the social media platforms young people in your lives are using. There are parental controls and safety measures you can enact to protect them from predators.
To learn more and access resources to protect yourself and young people online, please visit the Canadian Centre for Child Protection and the Stay Safe Online page on our website.
About the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service's Technological Crime Unit
The Sault Ste. Marie Police Service's Technological Crime Unit is a proud member of the Ontario Provincial Strategy to Protect Children from Sexual Abuse and Exploitation on the Internet, which consists of 27 partnering municipal agencies working collaboratively to rescue victims and combat child exploitation. This strategy has been made possible by a grant from the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services.