Smyrna police warn of online dating scam

SMYRNA, Del. – Smyrna police are warning the public of an online scam surfacing on dating websites.

Over the past few weeks, Smynra police have been investigating reports of unknown suspects attempting to extort/solicit money from people they meet on dating websites.

Police say these suspects pose as young women and eventually exchange explicit photos with unsuspecting victims.

Once photos are exchanged, police say the suspects contact the victims and claim to be Smyrna Police Officers who are investigating them for exchanging photos with underage females.

According to police reports, these suspects then demand that the victims pay them or they will be arrested.

We’re told they typically solicit untraceable sources of money such as Green Dot cards, Pay Pal and so on.

It is believed at this time that this scam is nationwide and not just local.

Police want to remind you that an officer would never solicit money from you during an investigation or as a way to avoid arrest.

Anyone experiencing this scam is encouraged to contact their local law enforcement or SPD Detective Bill Davis.