The Toronto Police Service (TPS) is warning of a scam it is seeing with increasing frequency that involves people receiving graphic, violent images texted to them on their cellphones.
Police said the sender then makes a demand for money and says if they are not paid, the recipient of the call will be subjected to the same violence.
The TPS said the scam starts with a phone call or text message from a U.S. phone number with the area code 470 or 404.
Images containing graphic violence are then texted to the victim.
"We would like to advise the public that this is a known scam in a bid to extort money from the receiver," the TPS said in a release.
Police said if you receive one of the texts or phone calls, do not pay any money, but report the incident to police immediately.
If you believe your information has been compromised in a data breach, police recommend changing the passwords to your accounts.
Anyone who has received one of the scam calls or texts can contact police at 416-808-2222, or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477) or www.222tips.com.
