New sextortion tactic being reported in Nova Scotia

RCMP are getting reports about a new sextortion tactic.

The incidents involved youth, but police say adults could also be at risk.

Mounties say fraudsters placed a young person's image over a video or photo so it looked like that youth was naked or involved in sexual acts.

The scammer then threatened to send the images to the victim's contacts if they didn't receive money or gift cards.

Police say the fraudster may also do the following:

• Contact a victim’s family via social media to show they can follow through on the threats made;
• Create a fake social media account using the victim’s name to share video or photo with others;
• Use photo filters from social media applications to make themselves appear younger.

RCMP are offering up the following online safety tips:

• Never answer video calls from people you don’t know;
• If you mistakenly connect with someone you don’t know over livestream, immediately hang-up;
• Always answer video calls with the camera turned off until you know who the person calling is.

If you or your child has been targeted by this scam, police recommend you do the following:

• Report it to your local police. There is help.
• Immediately stop all communication with the suspect.
• Ensure that you and/or your child do not comply with the threat.
• Keep any correspondence between you or your child and the suspect.
• Remember that you are not alone.

Child exploitation can be reported through www.cybertip.ca. People can also go to that website to sign up for alerts that include notifications of new trends and safety tips for communicating with others online.