8.08°C Vancouver

Jun 2, 2022 4:21 PM - THE CANADIAN PRESS

Calgary police warn parents, teens about online 'sextortion' scam

Share On

Police in Calgary are warning parents, caregivers and teens about an online ``sextortion'' scam.

Police say they have already had 48 reports this year and most have targeted teenage boys.

Sextortion is a form of blackmail in which online scammers, using a phoney profile, make a connection with potential victims and express romantic interest.

The scammer will ask for intimate photos and videos as the online conversation progresses.

Police say the scammer then demands money and threatens to share the explicit material if payment is not received.

The service's cybercrime team is investigating several reports.

Latest news

surrey-police-seek-public-help-to-locate-missing-38-year-old-man
CanadaJan 28, 2026

Surrey police seek public help to locate missing 38-year-old man

Surrey Police Service, working alongside the RCMP Surrey Provincial Operations Support Unit, is asking for the public’s assistance in locating a 38-year-old man who has been reported missing. Huy Tien Nguyen, also known as Tommy Nguyen, was last seen around 8:30 a.m. on January 23 in the 15500 block of 109 Avenue in Surrey. Police say there has been no contact with him since that time, and his current whereabouts remain unknown. Nguyen is described as an Asian male, standing approximately five feet five inches tall and weighing about 140 pounds. He may have been wearing a blue and black camo
man-detained-after-spraying-substance-at-rep-ilhan-omar-town-hall-in-minneapolis
WorldJan 28, 2026

Man detained after spraying substance at Rep. Ilhan Omar town hall in Minneapolis

A man was restrained and removed from a public meeting in Minneapolis after allegedly spraying an unknown substance toward U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar during a town hall event Tuesday evening. Video from the scene shows the individual being tackled to the ground by attendees as Omar was speaking to constituents. Witnesses in the audience reacted with alarm, with one person heard saying the man had sprayed something toward the congresswoman. Omar was not visibly injured and continued with the town hall after the man was escorted out of the room. The incident occurred shortly after Omar sharp
bank-of-canada-keeps-key-interest-rate-unchanged-at-2-25-per-cent
CanadaJan 28, 2026

Bank of Canada keeps key interest rate unchanged at 2.25 per cent

The Bank of Canada has decided to hold its key interest rate at 2.25 per cent, a move that economists had largely anticipated as the central bank continues to assess the pace of economic recovery. This marks the Bank of Canada’s first rate decision of the year, following a pause in interest rate cuts announced in December. Governor Tiff Macklem said economic conditions have developed broadly in line with the bank’s expectations since that pause was put in place. New economic projections released alongside the decision indicate Canada’s economy showed little growth in the final quarter of
south-koreas-former-first-lady-sentenced-to-20-months-in-prison-for-corruption
WorldJan 28, 2026

South Korea's former first lady sentenced to 20 months in prison for corruption

A South Korean court has sentenced former first lady Kim Keon Hee to 20 months in prison after finding her guilty of corruption, marking a significant development in a series of high-profile cases involving the country’s former leadership. The Seoul Central District Court ruled that Kim accepted bribes from the Unification Church in exchange for business-related favors, according to court findings released Wednesday. Prosecutors argued that the transactions undermined public trust and violated South Korea’s anti-corruption laws governing public officials and their immediate family members.
deputy-maharashtra-chief-minister-killed-in-private-plane-crash-in-western-india
IndiaJan 28, 2026

Deputy Maharashtra chief minister killed in private plane crash in western India

A privately operated aircraft carrying Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar crashed in an open field in western India on Wednesday, killing all five people on board, according to India’s aviation authorities. There were no survivors. The mid-size Learjet 45 was travelling from Mumbai to Pawar’s home city of Baramati when it went down about 254 kilometres from the financial capital. Television footage aired nationally showed flames and heavy smoke rising from the wreckage. The cause of the crash was not immediately known, and an investigation has been launched by the Directorate Gen

Related News