Mounties in Kelowna are warning about an increase of so-called sextortion targeting boys between the ages of 14 and 17.
They say the victims often receive friend requests through popular social media sites, and engage in flirtatious conversations.
Police say offenders will then ask for an intimate image of the victim, specifically to include their face, and then, once obtained, attempt to extort them for money.
They say investigators think the rise may be due to teens spending more time online during their summer break, and are reminding people that the crime is often orchestrated from foreign countries