Teenaged males targeted in recent sextortion attempts, say police

Police are cautioning parents and teens following a rash of recent sextortion attempts aimed at youths.

While not issuing concrete numbers, Coquitlam RCMP reported investigating a number of sextortion cases, most of which targeted teenaged boys for cash.

Sextortion can begin on websites like Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook or WeChat.

Young males are often tricked into believing they are flirting with a young female who uses: “their visual appeal and friendliness as an initial manipulative strategy as they attempt to build trust,” according to Coquitlam RCMP media relations officer Const. John Graham.

After a few hours or in as brief a period as 20 minutes there’s usually an exchange of sexual content followed by a demand for more pictures or for money in exchange for not sharing the photos with friends and family, according to information provided by Cybertip.ca.

While amounts vary, some local teens have paid hundreds of dollars, according to Graham.

“The resulting fear, shame and confusion that sets in can be devastating for the victim,” Graham stated. “Complying doesn’t ensure the privacy and safety of the victim, nor will it guarantee that the criminal action will stop. It can be particularly scary for the victim, as these criminals can be anywhere in the world.”

While the recent police reports suggest an upward trend in sextortion attempts, the issue could be even more widespread, according to Graham.

“Due to the potential of victims being embarrassed and confused, there are going to be unreported cases,” he explained, noting the number of victims is difficult to ascertain.

Cyptertip.ca reported receiving more than 2,300 sextortion reports in 2024.

The rate of online child sexual exploitation more than tripled between 2014 and 2022, according to Statistics Canada. Most offences are against youths between the ages of 12 and 17. Approximately 84 percent of victims are girls.

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