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From October to December 2022, Maidstone RCMP received multiple reports of people being victimized in sexting scams. The scams involve catfishing young males and teenage boys.
The scammer entices the victim to send nude pictures of themselves. The scammer then demands payment and advises the victim that if they do not pay, the photos will be released to the victim’s contacts.
Maidstone RCMP is warning the public of the inherent risks of sending private or sensitive images online as the actual recipient may not always be the only one who will receive or view this content. It is important to remain vigilant when receiving unsolicited text messages. Never provide personal or sensitive information to the requestor. Do not send money to the requestor, even if the message sounds urgent. Call your local police detachment to report this crime immediately.
If you or a family member have been contacted by a scammer, report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre — even if you didn't give them any money (antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/report-signalez-eng.htm or 1-888-495-8501).
