Submitted by Cst. Troy Lewis
Leduc RCMP
The Leduc RCMP has recently received reports from Leduc and the surrounding area of a social media scam.
Victims are contacted through various social media platforms, with friend requests from unknown parties. In some cases, victims who accept these friend requests are then baited into providing compromising images of themselves, which are then being used to blackmail the victim. The blackmail includes demands for money, with the threat of the victim's compromising images being released to friends, family and posted on-line if they do not comply.
The Leduc RCMP are encouraging all users on social media to exercise caution when accepting new friend requests, especially when private or compromising images are requested.