Northern Ireland lad reveals how sextortionists got him on camera belfastlive.co.uk - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from belfastlive.co.uk Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
A young Northern Ireland man has told how he was blackmailed by cyber criminals who threatened to share compromising footage of him online.
He was duped into posing naked on camera and then warned that unless he handed over hundreds of pounds, the video would be sent to his Facebook friends.
The man was speaking out as the PSNI revealed a rise in sextortion cases here.
Sextortion is a form of blackmail where a criminal threatens to reveal intimate images of the victim online unless they give in to their demands typically for money or further intimate images.
The victim, a 21-year-old who wanted to remain anonymous, said he wants to protect others from being duped online by criminals demanding money.
Police in Derry City and Strabane are reminding people to stay safe online following recent reports from parents concerned about internet chat sites.
Sergeant Adrian Brogan says while the internet can be great for allowing children to stay connected to friends, researching for school work or playing games, it is still important to ensure the sites they are accessing are safe and appropriate.
“As a parent or guardian you can take some simple steps to make sure your children are safe online. Remind them to only accept friend requests from people they know, never give out personal information in a chat room or through instant messaging, and give them the confidence to recognise when a situation is becoming abusive or harmful. It is especially important that your children know what to do if a situation online makes them feel uncomfortable and that they have the confidence to tell a trusted adult.
Cumbrians are being encouraged to come forward with their concerns about how to stay safe online. Cumbria’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Peter McCall, is set to respond to any issues and questions raised surrounding the topic at his Cyber Security public surgery tomorrow (January 13). The event will take place between 12pm-1pm, with Mr McCall, an officer from the Cyber and Digital Crime Unit and a partner from Get Safe Online on-hand to offer guidance and advice. Commenting on the event, Mr McCall said: “Cyber crime has increased during the Covid-19 lockdowns, and with the third national lockdown now in full-swing, I want the public to be as safe as possible online as well as offline.
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