POLICE are warning people in West Devon of the growing industry in internet blackmail and asking them to be vigilant when meeting people online.

Police in the area have seen a few incidents of people being filmed online and then being told the blackmailer will share the video with others unless money is sent to them.

Sergeant David Anning said: ‘We all know that a large amount of social interaction takes place on the internet these days. Some of this goes a little further than may have been the case in the days when first dates involved a chaperone.

‘In the event that you should be tempted to go that extra mile and display your feelings on camera, so to speak, please be aware that there is a growing industry in internet blackmail.

‘Basically, what happens is you meet someone online and things progress very rapidly to the point where you may become indiscreet. At this point it transpires that you were not talking to the person on the screen at all, but to someone who has taken the trouble to film everything you have done. And now they are going to share it with your friends and family unless you send them money.

‘We are seeing a few of these now, suggesting that this is the tip of an iceberg. Usually demands are in the £500 to £1,000 range. This may all sound improbable but if it were not profitable then these crooks would not be doing it.

‘Please remember that what you see online is not necessarily real and this is nowhere more the case than with online dating and similar activities. Most of the time it is men who fall for this sort of thing, but by no means always.’