Recently in the north, “sextortion” cases, where people are blackmailed for money because of racy images and videos shared online, have come to the forefront.
A man in Elliot Lake and two men in Blind River were victims of the crime.
Social media and dating sites are prevalent in today's society, but police are warning the public about sharing images through the internet because of the risk.
"We've had two cases reported in the last eight months, one in Echo Bay and one in Goulais River. Both were males who reported the fact they had met someone online through social media website, or a dating site, and began a relationship, in which they performed illicit sexual acts through the recording of their computer." said Sergeant Monique Baker of the Ontario Provincial Police.
After the images are sent, someone demands money in return for not making the files public.
The OPP says organized crime attempts many of the blackmails, adding they ask for an amount of money that the victim can afford, but not so much that they'll report the issue to police.
"We don't have a specific number of cases due to the fact that most victims are embarrassed and don't want to come forward and report to the police, so they'd rather pay the amount. However, just be cautious if you pay that amount, there is no guarantee the video is still not going to end up somewhere online." said Sergeant Baker.
Constable Sonny Spina of the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service says it is an issue for the department as well, especially with area youth.
"We want to really, really impress upon them it's important for them not to share these images with anyone, even if they think it's safe to do so. It's really important to know once you share those images, they're out there and you can't get them back." said Constable Spina.
Officers add “sextortion” victims often deal with more than just the financial burden and embarrassment that comes along with the crime. Some also deal with family issues or stress, while others have even attempted to take their own lives.
