The public are being urged to be cautious when using social media after men in Stevenage and North Herts who engaged in sexual acts online were blackmailed.

There have been six offences reported to police between February and April – two each in Stevenage, Hitchin and Letchworth – where victims are contacted online by unknown women and are encouraged to engage in sexual activity with their webcam on.

The offender then contacts the men demanding money and threatening to upload the videos to share with the victim’s friends using social media.

Det Sgt Sarah Gilbertson, of the North Herts Local Crime Unit, said: “This type of crime can often be difficult for victims to deal with and there is a risk that people who are targeted may be tempted to pay the offenders.

“There may also be victims who are reluctant to report the incident due to embarrassment or because they fear repercussions.”

The police are urging people to use caution when accepting friend requests on social media from unknown people and said that if you are contacted on Facebook or another social network, do remember that people may not be who they say they are or have honest intentions.

Anyone who thinks they have been the victim of a similar scam is urged to contact the police on 101.