Revamped website makes it easier for youths to report sextortion

Online reporting for child and youth sexual abuse Canada's tipline for reporting online sexual abuse and exploitation of children and youth has a new website NeedHelpNow.ca

Anyone who's worried about nude photos being shared online can reach out for help on needhelpnow.ca and will be walked through the process of removing sexual photos or video from the Internet.

Cybertip.ca officials reported it receives more than 50 sextortion reports on a weekly basis about perpetrators demanding images or money from youths between the ages of 14 and 17.

“They are not alone in this," said Stephen Sauer, director of Cybertip.ca at Canadian Centre for Child Protection Inc.

"And we want them to know that even if they don’t feel comfortable talking to a safe adult in their life, they can come to us and we can help walk them through it.”

Timmins police said a challenge for local investigators is that too often, crimes involving sextortion go unreported.

"They may feel as though they might get punished for having engaged in this activity where in fact they’re the victim," said Marc Depatie, communications coordinator for the Timmins Police Service.

"Any activity ... that is made towards your child should be reported to police for investigation.”

Depatie added, he has uploaded a number of misconceptions about child sexual abuse on the Timmins Police Service website. He said in the majority of cases, the offender is not a stranger to a victim.