Police issue warning after alleged social media extortion attempt of Oshawa man

Durham Regional Police have issued an online safety warning after a woman allegedly threatened to reveal webcam video of a man exposing his private parts.

Police said an Oshawa man, 32, was contacted by an “attractive female” on Facebook Wednesday evening.

She claimed she was a nursing student in Toronto and reportedly began flirting with him during their online conversation. Both the man and woman agreed to chat on a video call and had “exposed themselves on camera to each other,” police said.

Police said after their conversation, the female suspect emailed the man to say she had recorded the event, and that she was demanding $25,000 or she would circulate the video to all of his friends, family and co-workers.

The man refused to pay and contacted police.

Durham police said they continue to investigate and advise the public to not put themselves at risk to strangers on social media platforms.

“Although you see an avatar of a person on the screen, you really don’t know who you are dealing with.”