Police are reporting a spike in sexual extortion and sexual assaults involving people using dating apps in Surrey. RCMP Corporal Elenore Sturko explains it's linked to the rise of dating apps like Tinder and Bumble. Users are being warned to think twice before sharing any sensitive or private images

SURREY – Some people in Surrey using dating apps are paying a high price for sex and romance, according to police, who are warning of a spike in reports of sexual extortion and sexual assault in Mayor Doug “Paaji” McCallum headed city.

RCMP Corporal Elenore Sturko explains it's linked to the rise of dating apps like Tinder and Bumble. Police are warning users to think twice before sharing any sensitive or private images

Sturko says the cases involve people who meet each other using an online dating app.

“People who had shared photographs and then later found themselves a victim of people demanding money or sexual favors for them in exchange for not distributing those for photos any further,” she explains.

Police say perpetrators often attempt to finding these victims online, but with the rise of dating apps, police are seeing an increase in reports of sexual assault and sextortion, reported News 1130.

 “Any kind of apps where people are meeting,” she says. “We’re talking about things like Tinder, Bumble, these type of dating apps that have actually become more prevalent.”

Police are hoping this warning will make users think twice before sending any sensitive or personal images, reported News 1130.

“We’re not suggesting that people stop using apps, to meet friends and to meet new relationships,” Sturko says. “But we do caution people in taking risks when they don’t know a person. Perhaps getting to know someone publicly before meeting in private for the first time and take into consideration that you may want to let someone know who it is you’re meeting with and where you’re going when you’re meeting a new person.”