Rising cases of scams after intimate photos sent - PSNI [View all]

Police in Northern Ireland have launched a campaign to raise awareness of blackmail scammers who trick victims into sharing intimate images of themselves online.

The blackmailers then threaten to send the images or recordings to family, friends or work colleagues unless a ransom is paid.

The PSNI said it chose Valentine's Day to launch the campaign to urge the public "to get wise to the amorous advances of online fraudsters."

Police say they are dealing with increasing reports of the practice, referred to as 'sextortion', which starts with criminals using a false identity to befriend victims online.

https://www.rte.ie/news/regional/2022/0214/1279632-psni-warning/