Strangers trick men into performing sexual acts online

In a string of incidents recently reported in Bedfordshire, men have been targeted on Facebook by strangers who send them a friend request on the social media site.

Once they become friends with the offender, the victims are then asked to go onto Skype and perform sexual acts.

These sexual acts are filmed and the offender then demands money from the victim, threatening to share the video online if they do not meet the demands.

Bedfordshire Police is once again urging everyone to be really careful about what they post online.

> Remember, once something has happened online, it is almost impossible to completely remove it so be careful what you share and who you share it with

> Not everyone online is who they say they are and it’s easy for people to hide their real intentions - only speak to people who you know in real life, and never send anything you wouldn’t be comfortable sharing with a wider audience

> Don’t accept friend requests from strangers

> If someone makes you uncomfortable, or if you witness any suspicious behaviour, contact the police immediately.

If you have information about an online crime, or to report a crime, you can contact police on 101. You can also contact Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

For more advice on how to stay safe online, visit Bedfordshire Police’s Cybercrime and Online Safety pages.