Cheshire police warning over increase in scammers targeting people who use porn websites

Detectives have issued a warning following an increase in reports of scammers targeting people who access pornographic websites. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Over the past two weeks Cheshire Police has received a number of calls from victims who have been threatened by e-mail and told that their online activity will be exposed unless they agree to pay a lot of money. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

In some cases scammers have approached users online, encouraging them to engage in sexual activity over a webcam, and then threatened to expose their activity by posting a video to family and friends unless they make a large cash payment. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

A number of incidents have been reported to police over the past couple of weeks by people living across the county including Chester and Macclesfield. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

One of the incidents involved a woman from Macclesfield who received an e-mail from a scammer who told her she had been looking at pornographic websites. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

They claimed to know her password and the scammer then demanded money or they would release all her details. Thankfully the woman knew it was a scam and reported it to police. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Detective Chief Inspector Karen Jaundrill, of Cheshire Police’s Force Intelligence Bureau, said: ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“We have seen an increase in this type of crime being reported in Cheshire. I want to take this opportunity to let people know about this particular scam to try and stop more people from becoming a victim. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“The advice for anyone who is targeted by scammers in a similar situation is not to panic. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

You have already taken the first big step by recognising you are a victim and that you need support. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Do not under any circumstances feel pressured into paying any money to the offenders or to communicate further with them. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“Instead please report what has happened to Cheshire Police. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

You are encouraged to do this online at cheshire.police.uk/contact/general-enquiries, or to report what has happened via Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

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