TL;DR: Cybertip.ca, Canada’s tipline for online child sexual exploitation, processed 29,505 reports in 2024, up nearly 8%, and says financial sextortion reports rose significantly, with males more often targeted for money. If your teen is being blackmailed: don’t pay, stop replying, keep screenshots, report to Cybertip.ca and police, and reassure them it isn’t their fault.
What the data shows
From Cybertip.ca’s 2024 report summary:
| Measure (2024) | Figure |
|---|---|
| Reports processed | 29,505 (up nearly 8%) |
| Online luring reports | 2,717 |
| Non-consensual distribution of intimate images | 271 |
| Victims’ gender | 36.2% female, 34.3% male, 29.3% unknown |
Cybertip.ca says financial sextortion reports increased significantly, and males are more often targeted for money.
How it usually unfolds
- A friendly account, often claiming to be a teen girl, starts chatting.
- It moves quickly to exchanging images, or the scammer creates fakes.
- The threat arrives: pay, or images go to friends, family and school.
The UK’s National Crime Agency has seen cases go from first contact to blackmail in under an hour (the UK picture). The scammers run it like a business, which means the script is predictable.
What to tell your teen
- It’s not your fault. Shame is the scammer’s main tool.
- Don’t pay. Paying rarely ends it.
- Stop replying, but keep evidence: screenshots of messages, usernames and payment requests.
- Tell an adult now.
Where to report in Canada
- Cybertip.ca, Canada’s national tipline for online sexual exploitation of children.
- NeedHelpNow.ca, from the same organisation, helps teens get images removed and deal with the situation.
- Local police.
- The platform where it happened.
Prevention that actually helps
Calm, early conversations beat parental-control apps. Make accounts private, hide friends lists, and agree that a weird request from a stranger is something to share, not hide. See protecting teens online and making Instagram private. Avoid paid “sextortion removal” services that promise miracles; the US FTC sued one (the case).
A free email exposure check can show whether a family email has leaked.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is sextortion increasing in Canada?
Cybertip.ca says financial sextortion reports increased significantly in 2024, with males more often targeted for money.
Where do Canadian teens report sextortion?
Cybertip.ca, NeedHelpNow.ca and local police.
Should my child pay the blackmailer?
No. Stop replying, keep evidence and report it.
How many reports did Cybertip.ca process in 2024?
29,505, up nearly 8% from the previous year.
Sources
- Cybertip.ca: Reports from the public processed in 2024
- Canadian Centre for Child Protection: Statistics