Police issue alert on cyber extortion via love traps
In Singapore Police have issued an alert on an emerging online scam which “traps” victims and tries to extort money from them after getting them to perform sexual acts in front of a webcam.
Authorities said typically, the perpetrators will befriend the victims via online portals such as dating websites. While chatting, the perpetrator will persuade the victim to perform sexual acts in front of the webcam.
The acts are recorded without the victim’s knowledge. The victim’s nude photos or videos are then used against them as the perpetrator tries to extort money. Police added that in some cases, the perpetrator will ask the victim to remit money to a foreign account.
This is to pay for the freight charges or custom levies for gifts which the perpetrator claimed he was sending to the victim. If the victim refused to pay, the perpetrator will then resort to extortion. Police have advised Internet users to exercise caution when dealing with unknown persons befriended online. Those who are blackmailed or threatened should report the matter to the police immediately.