Olds RCMP is warning the public about the dangers of sending nude pictures following a recent increase in “sextortion” reports.
On Friday, police said officers have recently investigated reports involving people who had shared intimate images and were extorted for money to prevent the distribution of those images.
Olds RCMP is encouraging adults to talk to their children about the dangers of sextortion and the potential consequences of communicating online.
“We understand it may be an uncomfortable conversation, but it’s an important one to have with your children,” said Olds RCMP Staff Sgt. Warren Wright.
“Unfortunately, once those images are sent, you have lost control of those pictures and may be distributed to other people; it is very difficult to have them removed.”
If an incident like this happens, children need to know they can go to a safe, trusted adult to report.
Olds RCMP offers the following tips to keep yourself safe online:
- Think before you post – information is instant, public, and permanent;
- Do not accept friend requests on social media from unknown people;
- Do not share or send intimate images of yourself with anyone – if you aren’t okay with the whole world seeing it, do not send it;
- Use privacy settings on social media and keep personal information to a minimum;
- Trust your instincts, if anything about an interaction makes you feel uncomfortable, end the conversation immediately.
Police said parents supporting children should be open about online behaviour, make online activity part of their regular conversation and encourage teens to take breaks away from devices.
Olds RCMP provides the following advice to victims:
- Stop communicating with the person immediately;
- Do not comply with the threat, do not send money or additional images;
- Keep the correspondence;
- Report to your local police.
Resources and additional information on ways to keep safe online can be found by visiting www.needhelpnow.ca or www.cybertip.ca/sextortion.
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