SOMERSET NEWS: Men warned not to be fooled into naked blackmail scam

YOUNG men who use social media sites are being targeted in a new computer scam in which they are encouraged to take their clothes off!

The scam, which attempts to blackmail victims, has been revealed today (Wednesday, April 23, 2014) by police.

Young men who use social media sites are being targeted specifically as they are asked to pay sums of money to prevent screen shots of themselves in compromising and embarrassing positions being posted on the internet. 

Now a national computer organisation, which combats cyber crime,  is warning people to be on their guard and is issuing advice. 

Get Safe Online say innocent people are being targeted by the fraudsters and urged people to be aware of the scam and also to advised victims to contact their local police. 

The latest scam has involved the victim – usually a young man – getting involved in an on-line conversation or text message conversation with a woman. She asks whether he is on Skype and is then revealed to him in her underwear. She encourages him to take his clothes off. 

The woman will then say that there is someone at the door and the computer screen switches to a video showing the victim naked, who is then asked to transfer an amount of money (usually between £150 and £500). The blackmail threat is not spoken but appears as a message on the screen. 

Several incidents have been recorded and are being investigated by officers in the South Gloucestershire area of the force.  

Tony Neate, Chief Executive of Get Safe Online said: “This type of scam can often go unreported as it is embarrassing for the victim – it’s terrible that fraudsters are targeting innocent people in such a personal way. We hope that by raising awareness of this type of offence, we can help prevent it from happening to others and encourage victims to tell the police.” 

Getsafeonline.org is a government and law enforcement-backed, non-profit organisation.

If you become a victim of this type of scam, police advise you not to respond to the blackmailer’s demands, but report the issue to the police and the relevant      social networking site.

If you think that you have been persuaded by anyone to part with payment details, contact your bank or card issuer immediately. 

For more information on staying safe online, visit www.getsafeonline.org

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