Saskatchewan ICE unit reports more than 20 sextortion cases in September

Saskatchewan's Internet Child Exploitation Unit received more than 20 reports of sextortion involving child victims in September 2026, and police say the crime is under-reported and likely more common than the case count suggests.

The Saskatoon Police Service said in a news release dated Oct. 7 that offenders typically target teenage males through chat-based social media platforms, posing as a girl of a similar age to gain trust before pressuring victims into sending intimate images.

Once an image is received, the offender threatens to share it with the victim's family and friends unless money is paid, according to the release.

Police said suspects in these cases are often located overseas, making them difficult to identify and prosecute.

The unit encouraged parents to have age-appropriate conversations with their children about personal safety online and what to do if they encounter a situation that makes them uncomfortable.

For information on the prevention of child exploitation and support for those affected, police directed the public to cybertip.ca. Sextortion-specific resources are available at cybertip.ca/en/online-harms/sextortion.