Police have issued advice on webcam blackmail or sextortion which are incidents where criminals befriend victims online, by using fake identities, and then persuade them to perform sexual acts in front of their webcam, often by using attractive women/men to entice the victim to participate.
These individuals may have been coerced into these actions using financial incentives or threats.
These webcam videos are recorded by the criminals who then threaten to share the images with the victims’ friends and family.
This can leave the victims feeling ashamed and embarrassed and in extreme cases, have resulted in self-harm of victims taking their own lives. Males and females of any age, anywhere, can become victims.
Be careful and selective about whom you befriend online just as you would offline, especially when considering sharing intimate images.
We have evidence that organised crime groups mostly based overseas are behind this crime. For them it’s a low risk way to make money and they can reach many victims easily online.
For more detailed advice and guidance, check the ‘Keep Secure Online’ area of our website – http://ow.ly/ZvTe50ATmtx
John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.
