Lang
1/21/23
North Liberty Police are issuing a warning about an online scam targeting local residents.
According to an NLPD news release, the department has recently taken several online extortion reports. In each case, the victims have been males between the ages of 15 and 20.
Police say initially, the victims are contacted on Instagram or Snapchat by a person claiming to be a similar-aged female. Over the course of flirtatious chats, the suspects convince the victims to send nude photos. The suspects then threaten to send the photos to the victims’ friends and family if the victim doesn’t make a payment, often ranging from $1,500 to $2,000. The suspects instruct the victims to pay using Venmo or another online payment method.
So far, at least two victims have paid several hundred dollars before contacting law enforcement. Investigation into the reports so far has determined the suspects are international scam artists, making it impossible to recover money.
North Liberty Police ask parents to take a moment to remind their children about internet safety, teach them to think about how to avoid scams and encourage them to contact law enforcement if they feel they are being threatened.