Mounties say an unknown man is using social media to solicit intimate images from young girls in exchange for money, drugs and alcohol in Cranbrook, B.C.
The recent activity is targeting girls between the ages of 11 and 14, putting them at risk of sexual exploitation, the Cranbrook RCMP said in a statement Tuesday.
Police are investigating the incidents but so far have not determined the culprit’s identity.
“It’s important for you, as a parent, to be aware of your teen’s digital life, and to work with him/her on setting boundaries, acting responsibly, and staying safe online,” Staff Sgt. Kris Clark said in the statement.
“While this particular situation appears to be targeting girls, boys are just as susceptible to sexual extortion.”
Clark said there is a common misconception that online predators only exist in the darker corners of the internet, when “they’re actually alive and well on social media and in chat groups.”
Investigators are asking anyone with information related to the incidents to contact the Cranbrook RCMP at 250-489-3471.
