POLICE are warning people to be wary of an online blackmail scam.
Men on social media website Facebook have been targeted by women claiming to be called Cathy Wong and Ling Cheung.
They ask the men to Skype them and then entice them into performing an indecent act that is recorded on video. The men are then asked to send £3,000 to the woman because her grandma is ill.
Detectives believe the scam is operated by an organised crime group and that any number of false names could be used.
Acting Detective Sergeant Matthew Wilkinson, of North Yorkshire Police, said: "We can’t emphasise strongly enough how important internet safety is. Please don’t leave yourself vulnerable to online criminals.
"The victims in these cases have been left extremely distressed by what’s happened to them and I urge everyone using social media to be on their guard and to please be careful when it comes to sharing images.
"Not only can criminals use the images to blackmail you, but once they have been uploaded to the internet, they are virtually impossible to remove."
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