Surrey Police are warning about a new scam that is doing the rounds on social media.

The so-called 'sextortion' scams see young people approached on Instagram by users who befriend them before asking them to send explicit photos of themselves.

They then threaten to send the photos to the victim's contacts unless they are sent money, usually via Western Union transfer.

An 18-year-old man Sussex man fell victim to the scam after being approached by a woman on Instagram. After his initial suspicions were settled with a video chat with the woman, the man took part in explicit video chats, which the woman recorded and used to try to extort cash from him. The victim blocked the woman and reported what had happened to the police.

A police spokesperson said: "Fraudsters are experts at convincing you that they are genuine. If someone you've never met in real life asks you for explicit content of yourself, act with caution.

"If you're the victim of this scam, don't panic. Preserve the evidence, block the user and report it to police. Remember, paying the fee doesn't necessarily mean that the suspect will stop asking for more."

To report a scam on someone who is vulnerable, call Surrey Police on 101 or get in touch via the website.