Special thanks to a mum who loves helping
Cops’warningissuedover online sexualexploitation
Police in Lanarkshire have confirmed they have received reports of sextortion and blackmail during the lockdown period.
Data from Action Fraud has revealed a significant increase across the UK of this type of crime during the lockdown period.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Webcam blackmail or sextortion are incidents whereby criminals befriend victims online, by using fake identities, and then persuade them to perform sexual acts in front of their webcam, often by using attractive women/men to entice the victim to participate.
“The criminals then threaten to share the images unless you pay them.
“This is usually via money transfer or can be via virtual currency such as Bitcoin or similar.
“These webcam videos are recorded by the criminals who then threaten to share the images with the victims’ friends and family. This can leave the victims feeling ashamed and embarrassed and in extreme cases, have resulted in self-harm or victims taking their own lives.
“Males and females of any age, anywhere, can become victims with children being particularly vulnerable.
“The best way to protect yourself is to be selective about whom you befriend online just as you would offline, especially when considering sharing intimate images.”
Police have offered advice to victims stating anyone should report the matter to police immediately, don’t communicate any further with the criminals and don’t pay any money to the criminals.
Sheila Kerr is a home support worker with North Lanarkshire Council and during this pandemic has worked tirelessly to make sure the residents in her complex are kept safe and well and looked after.
Louise Bradshaw is delighted that her mum is still making sure those in her care are still well looked after.
Louise said: “For the best part of three months, my mum has been the only person these residents have seen due to restrictions put in place for visitors to come in.
“She’s kept them going during their most vulnerable time.
“She comes home every day exhausted but never complains.
“I haven’t been working due to current restrictions so I’ve been worried about her when she goes to her work, especially when all this began.
“Mum doesn’t have a car so she walks to her work all over Wishaw and even goes up as far as Overtown. She just loves helping people.”
To thank her mum for all she is doing, Louise nominated her for our Say it with Flowers competition.
And we surprised Sheila with a bouquet of flowers thanks to our friends at Pixie’s Petals in Newmains at her home in Coltness.
Louise is hopeful current restrictions will be over soon and things can return to some kind of normality.
She added: “She is my absolute hero and I can’t wait to cuddle her again. I would see my mum and dad almost
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“My two boys Ryan and Declan have been really missing them and they still can’t get their head round not being able to cuddle them.”
The Wishaw Press has re-launched our Say it with Flowers competition.
The competition, run in conjunction with our friends at Pixie’s Petals in Newmains, was incredibly popular with readers for more than 18 months.
And now, as we are living in unprecedented times, we are asking readers to nominate key workers or community volunteers who are going above and beyond during this crisis.
Email news@wishawpress.co.uk with the person’s name, the reason for the nomination and a contact telephone number for yourself.