Kingston Police offer tips after rise in sextortion cases

In light of a recent increase of sextortion cases, Kingston Police want the public to know the facts about this form of blackmail, and are offering tips to help prevent falling victim to it.

Sextortion is when someone threatens to send a sexual image or video of a victim to other people if the victim doesn’t pay or provide more sexual content, police explained.

“Unfortunately, sextortion has been on the rise lately,” Kingston Police said in a press release on Thursday, Jun. 13, 2019. “But there are ways to prevent and fight it.

The following is some information police would like the public to know:

• Live streaming can be easily recorded. Don’t be fooled by thinking it’s live and therefore ‘no big deal.’ The same risks exist for live streaming as sending photos or videos.
• Unless you know the other person offline, there is no way to verify who is on the other end.
• Pre-recorded video can be live streamed. For example, an adult could stream a video of a teenage girl, so you may think you are talking to a teenage girl in real-time when that’s not actually true.
• Trust your instincts, be skeptical and cautious. For example, if the person you are chatting with on cam has an excuse as to why their camera isn’t working, then that person may be trying to hide their identity.
• Never comply with the threat. It will only make the situation worse.

“Kingston Police wish to remind the public that the best way to fight sextortion is to prevent it,” police said. “So don’t send compromising photos or videos.”