Penticton RCMP alarmed by increase in online exploitation of children

Penticton RCMP have issued a warning about an increase in the number of young people reporting they have been sexually extorted online.

Police call the numbers alarming and are concerned the school year ending increases the risk as children have more time with electronic devices, according to an RCMP media release issued today, June 14.

The sex-related extortion tactics include the predator building trust with children and later asking them to perform in sexually explicit behaviour, RCMP said.

Once the video is recorded or photos are taken, the predator demands money from the victim and threatens to make the sexual images public unless they pay up.

“Unfortunately, many of the common social media apps youth are using today can be used to exploit them,” Penticton RCMP spokesperson Const. James Grandy.

“We want to educate youth and their guardians of the potential for this kind of situation to occur, and to remind them that any photo or video they may share stays online and could be used against them in the future.”

Police suggest parents get informed about online exploitation and recommend this website.

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