Guelph police are reminding the public to be cautious when chatting with strangers online after a Guelph man was extorted Tuesday.
Just after 3 p.m. a 20-year-old man contacted police. He said he was chatting through an app with an unknown adult female who claimed to be in the Philippines. A short time later he received a video of himself masturbating and a demand to pay $4,000 or the video would be shared with others. No money was exchanged.
Residents are urged to use caution when communicating online with anyone not personally known to them. Do not provide personal information or intimate images, which can be saved and used in extortion scams. These interactions are nearly impossible for police to investigate so residents should take steps to prevent falling victim.
