Men contacting online personal ads warned about blackmail threat to disclose information to families
Men contacting online personal ads are reported to be getting targeted by criminals threatening to disclose sensitive information to loved ones.
Lancashire Police posted the warning on social media.
A spokesperson said: “We just wanted to make you aware of a blackmail scam which is going around at the moment to make sure you don’t become a victim of it.
“Criminals have targeted men who had tried to arrange services via online classified ads and made demands for cash.”
Lancashire Police cited the case of one man from Clitheroe who criminals reportedly tried to blackmail for over £1,000.
The spokesperson added: “In one case, in Clitheroe, the victim received several messages and calls from people demanding that he transfer £1,100 through several different transactions to different accounts, saying that if he refused then they would disclose sensitive information to his loved ones.
“They also told him that the police would not be able to protect him.
“This is clearly not the case, and safeguarding measures have now been put in place. If you receive communication of this nature, we would ask that you do not engage with the fraudster but call us on 101 and report a blackmail.”