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Winnipeg police charge man in expansive sexual extortion case

June 28, 2023, Winnipeg, Man. – Winnipeg police have charged a man accused of extorting people who sent him sexual images of themselves.

Police say Tongun Justin Tongun faces 10 counts of extortion and that the alleged crimes may have international ties.

Officers began their investigation in January, when a man in his 20s said he had sent intimate images of himself to the accused, who had purported to be a young woman.

It’s alleged Tongun then threatened to share the images online unless the victim sent money.

Police say the young man e-transferred money to avoid having his images shared and he then notified police.

Officers identified nine other potential victims across the country and they believe money was transferred overseas.

Tongun has been released on an undertaking as mandated by the Criminal Code.

Sexual extortion is a form of online blackmail that occurs when someone threatens to distribute sexually intimate images of victims unless the suspect receives money.

Police say victims are often teen males and young adults who believe they are communicating with a woman to form a relationship.

Victims usually pay off the suspects because they feel embarrassed their images could be shared with people they know.

Cybertip.ca, Canada’s tip line for online sexual abuse and exploitation, has received more than 3,400 reports of children and young adults who have been targeted in such extortion schemes.

Stephen Sauer, director of cybertip.ca, says sexual extortion has become a public safety crisis.

He says social media platforms like Snapchat and Instagram need to crack down on those extorting teens and young adults.

He also says the Canadian government needs to implement legislation to protect youth.