Murray Wood: When words fail, stuffed animals can say a lot
Murray Wood says people in Foam Lake and communities across Saskatchewan are putting stuffed animals outside to remember...
The Saskatchewan Internet Child Exploitation Unit has issued a public advisory after receiving more than 20 reports of sextortion involving child victims in September.
According to the unit, offenders most commonly pose as young girls and engage teenage boys on social media. They communicate with the boys and coerce them into sending intimate photos.
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Once the images are received, offenders threaten to send them to the teenager’s family and friends unless the youth pays money to prevent their distribution.
In a release, the unit said sextortion is often underreported, leading police to believe there have been more than 20 incidents. Because suspects are often located outside Canada, they can be difficult to identify and prosecute.
The unit is encouraging parents to talk with their children about online safety and what to do if they feel uncomfortable.
Those seeking information about child exploitation prevention can visit Cybertip.ca.
