Prince George RCMP are warning parents about the dangers of sextortion after a 12-year-old BC boy tragically died by suicide.
Police say they attended a local residence on October 12th 12-year-old youth suffering from a gunshot wound. Mounties have determined that the youth took his own life in response to online sextortion.
“We are calling for parents and caregivers to be honest with their youth about the dangers of online activity, especially if they are engaging in chats with people they don’t know in real life. While not every case of online sextortion will end in tragedy, the consequences of this kind of activity can follow a youth for their entire life, which needs to be something we talk about openly with our kids,” states Cpl. Jennifer Cooper, Media Relations Officer for the Prince George RCMP.
According to police, reports of sextortion are on the rise and is most prevalent in youth between the ages of 13 and 18.
If you are the victim of sextortion, it is important that you stop all communication immediately with that person and do not give in to their demands. Deactivate the accounts that you are using to communicate with that person and, most importantly, reach out for help and report it.
Victims of sextortion should immediately call their local police and contact NeedHelpNow.ca and Cybertip.ca for support.