Quebec City police calls for vigilance after ‘several cases’ of sextortion targeting teens

The Quebec City Police Service (SPVQ) is calling for vigilance after “several cases” of sextortion targeting young people have been reported to it in recent days.

The police force emphasizes that the victims of this scheme are mostly teenagers between the ages of 12 and 17, but adds that teenage girls can also be targeted.

The SPVQ encourages parents to discuss the subject with their teenagers to raise their awareness of the risks associated with sexting.

In this scheme, the Quebec City police explain, the attacker pretends to be a young girl and contacts the targeted teenager on social media. After a while, they send them a sexually explicit photo and ask for one in return.

“After obtaining images or videos, a monetary sum is demanded. If the targeted teenager refuses to comply, the attacker will seek to intimidate them by threatening to publish intimate images of them,” states the SPVQ.

Some situations can even go further. The SPVQ reports cases where the attacker may “create a montage of images or videos by combining images of intimate parts with photos from the victim’s profile.”

In this context, the SPVQ recommends not sharing intimate content online, “even with people you trust,” since this content can be copied, recorded, or hacked.

“If someone asks you to share intimate photos or videos, even subtly, end the conversation,” the police force advises.

“If you are a victim, do not pay. Take screenshots, keep the exchanges, and immediately report the situation to the Quebec City Police Department.”

The SPVQ is promoting the website snaptoipas.ca, where young people and parents can find relevant information on issues related to sexting.

–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews