Delta police are cautioning the public about an extortion scam, believed to be based out of the Philippines, which has targeted a number of Delta residents.
According to police, typically a man or teenage male is contacted through social media. An online relationship may evolve through messaging apps, which feature free video calls.
“In an instance reported to police today (Feb. 8), a man relayed that a conversation with a female apparently residing overseas escalated to the point where the female was showing herself partially undressed, and encouraging the man to reciprocate,” said DPD public affairs coordinator Cris Leykauf. “In this instance the female claimed to have recorded the interaction and demanded $1,500 or she would post the video to social media. The female demanded the money be transferred through a digital transfer process commonly available worldwide.”
Leykauf said fortunately the man reached out to police, and did not transfer any money. Police advised the man to immediately cease contact with the woman. Initial investigation determined the female’s social media account was fake.
“Our officers are cautioning people to be careful when embarking upon online relationships, particularly when the other party lives overseas,” said Leykauf. “Taking part in revealing videos is just as risky as sending naked photos, as there is the possibility for extortion.”
DPD say there have been at least three recent instances of this scam reported to authorities, and all of these incidents appear to have originated in the Philippines.
In the two other instances the victims did not necessarily share any revealing imagery, however it was threatened that their faces would be photo shopped onto other naked photos.
Police caution that should money be transferred in such a situation, it will likely be impossible to recover it.
