Winnipeg police are prosecuting a man in a massive sexual extortion case
Winnipeg police have charged a man accused of blackmailing people who sent him sexual images of themselves.
Police say Tongun Justin Tongun faces 10 counts of extortion and the alleged crimes may have international links.
Officers began their investigation in January when a man in his 20s said he had sent intimate photos of himself to the suspect, posing as a young woman.
Tongun reportedly then threatened to share the footage online unless the victim sent money.
According to the police, the young man transferred money to prevent his photos from being shared and then alerted the police.
Officers identified nine other potential victims across the country and they believe money was transferred abroad.
Tongun has been released under a bond as prescribed by the Penal Code.
Sexual extortion is a form of online blackmail in which someone threatens to distribute sexually intimate images of victims unless the suspect receives money.
According to police, the victims are often teenage men and young adults who believe they are communicating with a woman to form a relationship.
Victims usually pay the suspects because they are embarrassed that their photos could be shared with people they know.
Cybertip.ca, Canada’s online sexual abuse and exploitation hotline, has received more than 3,400 reports of children and young adults being targeted by such extortion practices.
Stephen Sauer, director of cybertip.ca, says sexual extortion has become a public safety crisis.
He says social media platforms like Snapchat and Instagram need to crack down on those blackmailing teens and young adults.
He also says the Canadian government should implement legislation to protect young people.
