Sextortion cases jump by 62 per cent, teen boys biggest target
A disturbing new report shows cases of sextortion have increased by 62 per cent over the last six months, with teen boys being the biggest target.
The report was authored by Cybertip.ca, Canada's national child sexual abuse and exploitation tipline run by The Canadian Centre for Child Protection.
"So sextortion is essentially blackmail related to the distribution and recording of sexual abuse and exploitation material," said Stephen Sauer, Cybertip.ca's director.
"A teen may be engaged in an online conversation with an individual. They may be coerced into undressing or a sexual act that is then recorded, and then the individual comes back to them and threatens to share that recording with family and friends if they don't pay a certain amount of money."
Cybertip.ca's report found that males aged 15-17 are most at risk for sextortion.
"They are online exploring their sexuality. They are connecting with individuals they don't know and they are really looking for an outlet for social interaction," said Sauer.
"I think the individuals who are exploiting these youth really understand how youth are vulnerable in this space and understand that often they will quickly comply once they are threatened because they don't want anybody to find out that this happened to them."
Sauer believes more needs to be done to protect youth online.
"We see with online platforms like Snapchat and Instagram being the initial way to contact youth. There has to be regulation put in place to ensure that individuals don't have that access to youth and children on these types of platforms because it really is a gateway to exploitation."
Victims of sexploitation should report it immediately, Sauer said.
"The first thing parents should do is report to Cybertip.ca or your local law enforcement when your child is a victim of sextortion."
Sauer said victims should never comply with the demands of the person trying to blackmail them.
"One of the things we want parents to ensure their youth isn't complying with the demands. If they believe the youth has complied with the demands, make sure to stop the money and ensure that money doesn't go through if possible.”
"Save all the chats as a result of this and then connect with us. If they think the material has been shared, then we can certainly help with that."
More information can be found at Cybertip.ca.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
W5 Investigates How a convicted con artist may have exploited Airbnb's ID checks in rental scams
In part two of a W5 investigation into landlord scams, correspondent Jon Woodward looks at how hosts on Airbnb may be kept in the dark about their guests' true identities – a situation that a prolific Canadian con artist appears to have taken advantage of.
'She will not be missed': Trump on Freeland's departure from cabinet
As Canadians watched a day of considerable political turmoil for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his government given the sudden departure of Chrystia Freeland on Monday, it appears that U.S. president-elect Donald Trump was also watching it unfold.
Canadian government to make border security announcement today: sources
The federal government will make an announcement on new border security measures after question today, CTV News has learned.
Two employees charged in death of assisted care resident who ended up locked outside building overnight
Two employees at an Oshawa assisted living facility are facing charges in connection with the death of a resident who wandered outside the building during the winter and ended up locked outside all night.
The Canada Post strike is over, but it will take time to get back to normal, says spokesperson
Canada Post workers are back on the job after a gruelling four-week strike that halted deliveries across the country, but it could take time before operations are back to normal.
Lion Electric to file for creditor protection
Lion Electric, a Quebec-based manufacturer of electric buses and trucks, says that it plans to file for creditor protection.
Tofino Harbour Authority closed due to standoff with 'squatter,' agency says
The Tofino Harbour Authority says it has shuttered its office in the coastal Vancouver Island community after an escalating standoff with the operator of a so-called "squatter" vessel.
Canada's inflation rate down a tick to 1.9% in November
Inflation edged down slightly to 1.9 per cent in November as price growth continued to stabilize in Canada.
Transit riders work together to rescue scared cat from underneath TTC streetcar
A group of TTC riders banded together to rescue a woman's cat from underneath a streetcar in downtown Toronto, saving one of its nine lives.