After a short amount of time chatting online, the men were encouraged to send a sexually explicit photo of themselves.
The people contacting the locals were then threatening to release the photos to the locals’ social media contacts if they did not pay them hundreds of dollars, Sgt Wagstaff said.
The photos were then released to one or two contacts when the money was not paid, as proof that the scammers could and would do so.
Sgt Wagstaff is warning people not to get caught in these sort of scams.
“Use some common sense, and don’t be naïve and send naked photos to people you don’t know,” Sgt Wagstaff said.
The officer said the people running these scams were usually from overseas and were randomly finding their victims on social media.
He said the Greater Shepparton residents who had been caught out were mainly young men.
The amount they were asked for was mostly in the low hundreds; however, there were repeated requests for more money.
Sgt Wagstaff said police were informed of scams such as these at times, but the 10 that police knew of in recent months was a lot more than usual.
Any locals who are contacted are urged not to send photos and to contact police about it.
Those who had money demands made of them are also urged to contact Shepparton police on 5820 5777.
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