Men in central Iowa and beyond have become the latest victims in a sexting extortion scam, according to the Iowa Department of Public Safety.

The scam starts by an alleged woman contacting a man through an online dating app or website. Within days, the woman says they should start texting. The texting then turns sexual and includes the exchange of nude photos and plans to meet in the future, according to IDPS.

After the male victim receives the photo of the woman, he is then called by a person claiming to be a part of Iowa’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. The scammer tells him the woman is underage and there is now child pornography on his phone.

The scammer says child pornography is also on the woman’s father’s phone because she was using it communicate with the male victim.

The scammer then tells the victims he will need to replace the father’s phone or face legal action. Later in the day, the victim receives a phone call from another scammer who claims to be the father. The father tells the victim to wire several hundred dollars to him to pay for the new phone.

Local law enforcement have received several reports of this scam in the metro, according to IDPS.

An investigation revealed the suspects use phones with out-of-state area codes.  The fake law enforcement officer also has a professional voicemail that identifies him as an employee with the Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation.

Victims are encouraged to call their local law enforcement agency and make a report.

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/crime-and-courts/2017/06/20/sexting-scam-extorts-male-iowa-victims/414389001/

Iowa Department of Public Safety  Press Release | June 20, 2017

Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Scam Impacts Iowa

It has come to the attention of the Iowa Department of Public Safety that an online extortion scam has been taking place where individuals pose as law enforcement officers who supervise Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Forces.

Reports have been filed in the metro area, as well as other states and appears to follow the same pattern:

• Male victim is contacted via an online dating app/website by an alleged female. Within a few days, at the recommendation of the female, they shift from the app site to texting.

• The texting transitions from banter to more intimate messages and results in the exchange of nude photos and discussions of meeting in the near future.

• After the male receives the nude photo from the female, the male is then called form a person claiming to be the supervisor of the Iowa ICAC task force. The imposter advises the female is underage and there is now child pornography on the male’s phone and the female’s father’s phone because she was using it to communicate with the male (victim).

• The fake ICAC supervisor then advises the male he will need to replace the father’s phone or face legal action. Later that day, the male receives a phone call from the imposter father who advises them to send money (usually several hundred dollars) via wire transfer to replace the phone.

Investigation has revealed that the perpetrators have used phones with out of state area codes.  The fake law enforcement officer has even had a professional voicemail that has identified the person as the ICAC supervisor with the Iowa DCI.

Anyone that believes they have been victim to this or becomes victim of this is urged to call their local law enforcement agency and make a report.

http://www.dps.state.ia.us/commis/pib/Releases/2017/06-20-2017_DCI_ICACScam.html