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By Liam Verster

Online Exploitation Protection Tips

Vernon RCMP reminding parents to protect youth from sextortion

Nov 4, 2024 | 5:00 PM

With the growing threat sextortion and online exploitation, the Vernon North Okanagan RCMP urges people take steps to protect themselves and their children.

Sextortion is a form of blackmail where sexual content is used to extort a victim, with local Mounties saying it usually starts with the victim being asked to provide nude or sexual images or videos.

Recent cases have seen young men and boys targeted by someone posing as an attractive woman, who then use the photos or videos as leverage, threatening to share them online unless they provide money or more content.

RCMP noted this type of exploitation can lead to severe emotional distress, depression, social withdrawal, financial loss, and, in extreme cases, self harm or suicide.

“These crimes often start with seemingly innocent conversations that quickly turn exploitive,” Corporal Ashley Fast of the Vernon North Okanagan RCMP’s Special Victims Unit, said.

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“We need to talk about this and get it out in the open. Sextortion can happen to anyone regardless of age or gender. We need kids and parents to know about it, understand the danger, and make online safety a regular and normal part of everyday discussions.”

To protect oneself, police advise that people:

• Do not share personal information such as real name, address, school, or other details
• Trust your instincts and don’t engage if things feel wrong or suspicious
• Ask for help by speaking with a parent, teacher or another trusted adult
• Report inappropriate content by using tools within apps or games

Tips for parents and guardians include

• Maintaining open communication so children can share their online experiences without fear of punishment
• Know the platforms and games your child uses
• Set privacy controls to limit your child’s interactions to known friends only
• Monitor activity responsibly by checking in on your child’s online interactions while still respecting their privacy and encouraging transparency
• Discuss risks regularly so the children know the dangers of interacting with strangers online

People who are targeted by these types of exploitation are advised to:

• Stop communicating to the person immediately
• Don’t comply with the threat as sending money or more images will not solve the problem
• Talk to someone about the threat, such as a parent or trusted adult
• Save the conversations including the usernames, account information, images and videos
• Report it to police

“We want our kids to know that if it does happen, they don’t need to suffer in silence,” Cpl. Fast added.

“They’re never alone and there are people and resources to help them. Social media is a large part of our teens’ lives. By staying informed and involved, parents and kids can work together to create a safer online environment and protect them from sextortion or other forms of exploitation.”

Additional resources and information on staying safe online can be found at the Need Help Now, Cybertip and Take it Down websites.