RCMP preaches caution after seeing 105 extortion cases in 2023

A 200 per cent increase in reports of extortion in Saskatchewan has the RCMP warning the public to be careful of scams.

According to the Saskatchewan RCMP, officers in the province received 105 reports of extortion between January and June. According to police, that number is almost twice as high as the total in the same period in 2022, and reports are coming in from communities all across Saskatchewan.

The majority of the reports deal with “sextortion,” the RCMP said.

“Typically, the victim meets someone online on common platforms like social media, gaming or dating sites. Communication may move to other methods like texting, chat sites or messaging,” the Saskatchewan RCMP said in a statement.

“The suspect persuades the victim to send a nude photo or video, then threatens to send it to the victim’s contacts or post it publicly, unless payment is made. Even if the victim hasn’t sent a photo or video, the scammers may alter photos to make it look like they did.”

Another type of scam reported in the province sees scammers contact a victim and claim they’ve hacked a computer or phone and are monitoring the victim’s online activity. According to the RCMP, the scammer then threatens to send details to the victim’s contacts or post it online unless a payment is received.

Even if there’s nothing compromising in a person’s online history, police said the scammers will threaten to make it seem otherwise.

“These extortions can be extremely traumatic for victims,” the RCMP said. “Some victims have lost money by paying the scammers by gift cards, e-transfers or cryptocurrency. Even if no money is lost, becoming a victim to such a crime can be immensely stressful and traumatic.”

To avoid falling victim to a scam, police recommended everyone ensure they know who they’re really talking to online and be aware scammers often impersonate others to earn the trust of victims.

Police also advised against sending any intimate photos or videos, and reminded parents to monitor the online activity of their children, “including their social media use and search history,” and have conversations about online safety.

Anyone who has been victimized by a scammer was advised to immediately break off communication with the suspect, deactivate (but don’t delete) any social media accounts used to communicate with the suspected scammer, keep a detailed record of any conversations, avoid sending money or gift cards, and contact police directly.

Monica Deters, a crime analyst with Saskatchewan RCMP’s Crime Prevention/Crime Reduction unit, said a 200 per cent jump in reported scams is alarming, and said the sensitive nature of the scams means many cases may not be reported at all.

“Saskatchewan RCMP proactively monitors crime trends and this allows us to inform the public when we see an emerging issue,” Deters said in a statement. “Based on the statistics we’re seeing, we’re letting Saskatchewan residents know these extortions are happening and that should be taking steps to protect themselves from these types of crime.”

More information on “sextortion” scams can be found online.