FORTH Valley residents have been warned by police to be vigilant following reports of webcam blackmail in the area.

Last Thursday, January 14, Forth Valley Police Division announced the reports of webcam blackmail and sextortion and offered advice on how to avoid this happening.

Posting on Facebook, the police said: “Criminals befriend victims online using fake identities [and] persuade them to perform sexual acts in front of a webcam.

“The webcam videos are recorded, then used by threatening to share them with the victims’ friends and family, unless the victim pays money.”

According to the police, the best way to protect potential victims is to encourage them to be careful about befriending people online as you would offline, especially when sharing intimate images.

Anyone who finds themselves in this situation should contact the police and internet service provider immediately and take screenshots of all communications.

Visit https://www.scotland.police.uk/keep-safe/keep-secure-online/sextortion/ for more information and advice.