Sextortion on the rise, Winnipeg police say

The Winnipeg Police Service are sharing tips on how to protect your children from sextortion. Jon Hendricks reports.

Investigators are sounding the alarm about a ‘concerning’ rise in sextortion cases in Winnipeg, as police remind the public how they can protect themselves and their children from being victimized.

According to the Winnipeg Police Service, extortion reports have risen steadily over the past five years, from 19 incidents in 2020 to 223 in 2025.

While that data encapsulates all extortion reports made to the service, officers say sextortion is driving the rise.

“These numbers are quite concerning,” Const. Stephen Spencer, a public information officer with the WPS, said at a news conference Wednesday.

Sextortion is a form of online sexual exploitation. Police say it often involves a perpetrator who deceives, manipulates or coerces a victim into giving them intimate images. The perpetrator then threatens to distribute them unless money or more pictures are provided.

Police say sextortion can also be used for coercive control in intimate partner or domestic relationships. This is typical in cases involving adults reported to the domestic violence unit, officers say.

“Most of those victims, close to 90 per cent, would be female,” Const. Spencer said.

However, about 87 per cent of victims in cases reported to the service’s internet child exploitation unit are boys. In those incidents, victims are typically targeted for money by strangers who develop a relationship with them, often using social media.

“It can take place over two days to a couple weeks, and then they feel that they can trust this person,” explained Craig Holloway, a detective with the WPS internet child exploitation unit.

The perpetrators can be part of large overseas criminal organizations, he said, who are trained to extort young people for money, gift cards, e-transfers and more pictures.

To try and combat the concerning rise, police launched a four-part video series to educate the public on how they can protect themselves, as well as what to do if they’re targeted.

“Victims are often too ashamed or afraid to come forward, and many are unaware of the legal protections and supports that exist.” Const. Spencer said.

Meanwhile, parents are advised to know what their kids are up to online, what platforms they’re using and how they work.

“There’s so many different ones, so it’s tough for parents,” Det. Holloway said.

“But I think the major thing they can do is make sure that parents know what their kids are doing online, who their friends are, and if they’re communicating with somebody they don’t know, ask your child who it is.”