A Norfolk County man will think twice about what he does online after police say someone recorded explicit video of him and demanded $25,000 not to share it.

Halton police say the case dates back to December 2019 when a female victim was threatened if she did not 'comply with demands.'

Norfolk County OPP say they hope the incident serves as an important internet safety reminder for the public.

"This has been a hidden epidemic in Nova Scotia," said MacFarlane, who was surprised by the statistics.

Police said the 12-year-old victim had been chatting on a social media platform with someone she did not know. 

Police-reported cases of extortion have exploded in Canada rising by roughly 170 per cent from 2012 to 2018. Digital crimes like "sextortion" are helping fuel the rise.

A parent told Nova Scotia RCMP that their daughter had been threatened by someone she met online.

Nova Scotia RCMP say they were notified by high school administration on Tuesday that nude photos of a student were being circulated.

According to police, the scammers have been reaching out to their targets using social media, including apps and video chat.

Security experts believe Thursday's emailed bomb threats can be traced back to the same group responsible for the "sextortion" scam this past October.