HALIFAX -- RCMP say someone is hacking social media accounts belonging to Nova Scotia girls and demanding provocative photos and videos.
The Mounties say they received complaints involving girls in the Annapolis Valley area this week, but the extortion bids are also happening elsewhere in the province.
They say the hackers get access to the girls' accounts, and demand provocative photos or videos or login information for friends' accounts to regain control of the accounts.
The hackers also threatened to send explicit content from the accounts if they did not comply.
The RCMP are asking anyone who has been hit by such a scam to contact police.
Investigators are also encouraging parents and guardians to talk to their children about what they're sharing online, the potential risks and how they can protect themselves.
"Please know that our investigators appreciate this can be embarrassing but do not let that stop you from contacting us," RCMP Cpl. Jennifer Clarke said in a statement Thursday.
"We need this information to identify those responsible to put a stop to it."
