The number of cyber extortion cases increased to 203 in the first half of 2022, from 138 cases in the same period in 2021.
In these cases, criminals typically befriend victims online and subsequently coax them into performing compromising or indecent acts in front of a camera. Thereafter, the criminals would use the video footage or images to extort money or online credits from these victims.
In some cases, victims were asked to visit a link or to download an app that may result in granting the criminals access to the victims’ contact data which will then be used to extort the victims.
The total amount lost by victims of cyber extortion cases was more than $754,000. Instagram was observed to be the most common platform by which victims were first approached by the culprit, followed by Facebook and Tinder.
Prevention
The Police have been working with NCPC to reach out to members of the public, to alert them to the threat of cyber extortion and educate them on crime prevention measures.
The Police will be rolling out targeted advertising on online platforms to raise awareness of cyber extortion and emphasise public vigilance. The Police are also working with the grassroots community to better educate members of the public about this crime and the preventive measures to adopt.