Police warn against scams involving intimate images and sexually explicit video calls

Scammers extort victims by threatening to share their sexually explicit videos or photos.

PHOTO: SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE

Published Sep 04, 2026, 09:47 AM

Updated Sep 04, 2026, 09:47 AM

SINGAPORE – The police have warned the public about the rise of cyber extortion scams involving intimate images and sexually explicit video calls.

At least 52 reports were made since August 2026, with losses amounting to at least $134,000, said the police in an advisory on Sept 3.

In such cases, victims are usually approached through dating apps or social media. After establishing contact, the scammers would persuade the victims to continue the conversation on messaging apps instead.

The victims are convinced to participate in sexually explicit video calls or share intimate photographs, which are secretly recorded or saved by the scammers.

The scammers would then threaten to release the images and recordings or send them to the victims’ family members, friends or social media contacts unless payment is made.

The extortion often continues even after the victims make payment, said the police.

The police advised members of the public to refrain from participating in sexually explicit video calls or sharing photographs especially with people they recently met online.

The public should also be cautious when interacting with strangers on dating apps, social media and other messaging platforms.

They should avoid revealing personal information online and consider setting their social media accounts to private.

If they encounter such scams, victims should not agree to the scammers’ demands or make any payment.

They should also cease all communication with the scammers, save screenshots of the conversation and transaction records, and make a police report as soon as possible.

Internet crimes and scams

诈骗分子通过威胁公开受害者的性爱视频或照片来敲诈勒索。

照片：新加坡警察部队

发布于 2026 年 9 月 4 日上午 9:47

更新于2026年9月4日上午9:47

新加坡——警方警告公众，涉及私密照片和露骨性视频通话的网络勒索诈骗案件正在增加。

警方在9月3日发布的公告中表示，自2026年8月以来，至少有52起报案，损失金额至少达13.4万美元。

在这种情况下，受害者通常是通过约会软件或社交媒体被骗子接近。建立联系后，骗子会说服受害者转而在即时通讯软件上继续交流。

受害者被诱骗参与露骨的性视频通话或分享私密照片，这些内容会被诈骗者秘密录制或保存。

诈骗分子随后会威胁说，除非受害者支付赎金，否则就会公布这些图片和录音，或者将它们发送给受害者的家人、朋友或社交媒体联系人。

警方表示，即使受害者支付了赎金，勒索行为也往往会继续。

警方建议公众不要参与露骨的性视频通话或分享照片，尤其不要与最近在网上认识的人分享。

公众在使用约会软件、社交媒体和其他通讯平台与陌生人互动时也应保持谨慎。

他们应该避免在网上透露个人信息，并考虑将社交媒体账户设置为私密账户。

如果遇到此类骗局，受害者不应同意骗子的要求或支付任何款项。

他们还应该停止与诈骗者的一切联系，保存对话和交易记录的截图，并尽快向警方报案。

网络犯罪和诈骗