Victims of online sex scam being blackmailed for money: N.B. RCMP

RCMP in New Brunswick are warning of an online sex scam where victims end up being blackmailed for money.

According to police, people are being contacted by strangers on social media websites — oftentimes it’s men being contacted by women — and asked to engage in sex acts over video chat. The scammers record the video and then use it to blackmail the victims for money.

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The Mounties say they have fielded numerous complaints of similar incidents in the past few months.

“It is important for people to be wary of strangers who contact them online for any reason,” said New Brunswick RCMP Const. Jullie Rogers-Marsh in a press release. “There are all kinds of online fraud scams out there and we are asking people to take measures to protect themselves.”

Rogers-Marsh recommended avoiding “personal video communication with people you have never met in person.”

RCMP say victims should not send money to the person scammers and also report the incident to local police.