Lincolnshire Police warn over sharing explicit images online after Sleaford area victim’s intimate photos sent to contacts and pornographic website
Police have warned people to be cautious when sharing personal images online after explicit photos were sent to contacts and a pornographic website.
Lincolnshire Police said a sextortion victim from the Sleaford area met someone on a dating app, moved their conversation to WhatsApp, and was encouraged to expose themselves on a video call.
Shortly afterwards, the victim received messages demanding a large sum of money, threatening to share screenshots from the call if they refused to pay.
The offender later shared the material with the victim’s contacts and uploaded it online.
Police confirmed that the investigation remains ongoing.
Sextortion involves threatening to share sexual material to extort money or control a victim.
“Criminals often target people through dating apps, social media or pornography sites,” said police.
“They may use a fake identity to befriend you online. If a person you’ve just met online chats to you in a sexual way or asks for sexual images, it might be an attempt at sextortion.
“This type of crime can happen both very quickly or over a long time.”
Police urge people not to share intimate images and to review privacy settings.
“Once an image is gone from your possession, you have lost all control of it,” officers warned.
Be wary of anyone who rushes a relationship or pressures you into sexual acts.
They should also be wary of anyone claiming to have hacked their accounts or threatening to contact their friends.
Police urge victims not to panic, seek help, and:
- Cut contact with the offender
- Don’t pay money — it rarely stops the threats
- Save screenshots, messages and usernames
- Report it to police and social media sites
“If you are a victim of sextortion, it’s not your fault,” officers added. “There is help and support available.”
Lincolnshire Police can be contacted via the non-emergency number 101 or 999 in an emergency.