Webcam scam artists are tricking people into performing sex acts online and then blackmailing them with the footage.
West Mercia Police have issued advice urging people to be careful with how they conduct themselves online after recent reports of a distressing scam involving webcams.
The scam typically involves an offender, who normally pretends to be an attractive young woman, and who adds potential victims on Facebook, Skype or via an internet chat room before engaging in conversation with the victim and offering to perform a sexual act via webcam.
The victim, who is normally a man, will then be encouraged to reciprocate believing it is only for the view of their new ‘friend’.
However, the scammer will actually be recording it and they will then play the video to the victim or publish it online with a link for him to view it.
They will then threaten to publish the footage online or send it to the victim’s friends and family unless he pays a certain amount of money.
It is believed that the blackmailers are often living overseas and request a payment via Western Union.
These sorts of scams can cause a huge amount of distress to the victims and their loved ones and police urge people to always consider how well they really know and trust someone who they have only communicated with over the internet.
People are advised to always be careful about who they engage with and think very carefully about what they are being asked to do and always consider what the potential outcome could be.
Anyone who has been a victim of this crime, can report it to police on 101.
25th Apr, 2024
