(KRON) — The Alameda Police Department is warning residents about a rise in sextortion scams. The scam, according to police, begins with scammers reaching out to victims through social media or dating apps.
Once a connection is established, the scammer typically tries to quickly move the conversation to text messages or another platform. Once the scammer has lured the victim off-platform, police say they quickly try to steer the conversation from casual to inappropriate.
Katie Hong, Fremont teen who vanished without a trace, has been missing almost two weeks
The goal of the scam, police say, is to obtain explicit photos of the victim. Once the scammer gets those, they demand money in exchange for keeping the photos private.
In order to increase the pressure, the scammers have been known to send screenshots of the victim’s follower list as a scare tactic. The scam has been occurring nationwide, police say, with cases specifically reported in Alameda.
Lawsuit filed after Calif. girl, 10, kidnapped by man she met online
Police recommend taking the following actions to avoid becoming a victim:
- Never share explicit images online or through text messages
- Be cautious of anyone pushing to move conversations to a different platform
- Limit who can see your posts and restrict messages from unknown parties
- Block and report suspicious accounts
- If targeted, never pay the scammer and report the incident to police immediately
“Anyone can be targeted, but teens and young adults are especially at risk,” police said. “We encourage parents and guardians to talk to their children about online safety.”…