Extortion and Sextortion

What is Extortion?

Extortion is a serious criminal offense under Section 346 of the Criminal Code where a person uses threats, accusations, intimidation, or violence to force someone to do something or give up money or property.

The legal definition of extortion is making threats such as:

• Physical harm or violence
• Arrest or imprisonment
• Criminal charges
• Property Damage

Common Examples:

What should you do if you are being extorted?

• Don’t panic, don’t pay, and do not send more money if you already have.
• Block the suspect, but keep any communications you had with them and any images you sent to them.
• Lock down all social media, they will often try to reach you with one or several fake profiles to continue their threats and make it look like more people are involved.
• If you are a young person, tell a close trusted adult who can assist and support you.
• Contact the Halton Regional Police Service at 905-825-4747 or your local police department to report the incident.

What is Sextortion?

Sextortion is a form of online blackmail where a person threatens to share your private sexual images or videos unless you pay them money or give them more explicit content.

Examples of Extortion and Sextortion Schemes:

1. A fake profile is created on a social media site or dating website. The extortionist uses the profile to lure victims into conversation and coerces the victim into sending sexual images or performing sexual acts on camera with the intent to record. The victim is told the images will be shared online or with family/friends unless they send the extortionist money via e-transfer, bitcoin or by gift card.
    
2. An extortionist contacts the victim via e-mail claiming to have hacked their computer and recorded them involved in an explicit act. The extortionist will cite some of the victim’s information, or a password as proof of the hack; however, the computer has not actually been hacked. The extortionist tells the victim they will release the video if they do not pay a fee via e-transfer, bitcoin or by gift card.
    
3. The extortionist contacts the victim over social media and offers the victim to participate in a promotion advertisement or offers a job. The extortionist then sends the victim a cheque to deposit (usually via e-mail). The victim is then told to send the funds to another e-mail address as part of the process. The victim is unaware that the cheque is fraudulent, and once these transactions are completed the bank will often flag the transactions as suspicious and the extortionist does not receive the money. The extortionist will then contact the victim and demand the funds be returned which will also be accompanied with threats of violence. 

How to avoid Extortion and Sextortion?

• Do not befriend someone you have never met in person.
• Before chatting or following someone else, check to see when someone’s profile was created and how many friends or followers they have.  If they don’t have any followers or maybe only a few – think twice about your decision.
• Do their photos appear professional or stock like?
• Do they provide you with excuses not to video chat?
• Never put identifying information in your profile.
• Do not send compromising photos or videos of yourself.
• Review the security settings on all your social media accounts.
• Do not open or respond to e-mails from senders you are not familiar with.
• If the job, deal, or advertisement sounds to good to be true - it likely is! 

Are you a victim of an extortion scheme?

If you or someone you know is being extorted, contact the Halton Regional Police Services at: 905-825-4747.