Over 100 sextortion reports to RCMP this year
RCMP in the Okanagan are urging parents and caregivers to have conversations with their children about the dangers of sextortion in the wake of the recent suicide of a 12-year-old boy in Prince George.
Police say sextortion reports have been rising every year in British Columbia with over 100 complaints in Kelowna this year. The crime is most prevalent in youth between the ages of 13 and 18.
Sextortion is the use of coercion and threats to extort money or sexually explicit favours from someone. This coercion often occurs on social media applications and online. Cybertip.ca has great resources to learn about sextortion and has educational materials to help guide sextortion conversations with our youth and children,” RCMP said.
“Our children are increasingly using various online and texting apps including gaming, where they can communicate with people they may not know. This can potentially segue into a risk of sextortion and we must monitor their online activities,“ Const. Mike Della-Paolera, media relations officer for the Kelowna RCMP, said.
“The RCMP are encouraging victims of sextortion to reach out for help by reporting them to police. You are a victim and you will not be in trouble for reporting.”
Della-Paolera said the Kelowna RCMP ICE Unit along with members of the Kelowna Crown counsel office make presentations about the dangers of online communications and posting intimate images in a number of Grade 12 law classes this year.
“These presentations have been positively received by both students and teachers, and demonstrate Kelowna’s collaborative commitment to addressing this increasing crime trend,” the officer remarked.
Targets of sextortion are advised to stop all communication immediately with that person and do not give in to their demands. Deactivate the accounts that you are using to communicate with that person and most importantly, reach out for help and report it. Call your local police and contact NeedHelpNow.ca and Cybertip.ca for support.