Missed any updates this week? No worries. CBC’s Marketplace has compiled the latest consumer and health news for you. If you’d like to receive this information directly in your inbox, sign up for the Marketplace newsletter every Friday.
Sextortionists have been preying on young boys online and boasting about the wealth they gain from their scams. This disturbing trend has been on the rise in Canada since 2021, with more than 40 suicides in North America, Australia, and the U.K. linked to sextortion, including five cases in Canada.
John, a self-proclaimed scammer from Nigeria, revealed that targeting individuals through social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram is his full-time occupation. He is part of a group known as “Yahoo Boys,” who manipulate teenagers into sending explicit photos and then use them for blackmail.
Paul Raffile, a sextortion and cybercrime researcher, described this type of scam as the most egregious, involving the exploitation and coercion of children. To investigate the prevalence of sextortion, Marketplace journalists created fake Instagram profiles posing as teenage boys to assess the platform’s vulnerability to such schemes.
In another development, Amazon has faced criticism for allowing the term “wife beater” in ads for men’s tank tops on its Canadian website, despite it being deemed offensive and violating advertising standards. Women’s rights advocates have expressed outrage over the use of this derogatory term, prompting calls for its removal.
Furthermore, Loblaw announced the closure of two out of three ultra-discount No Name grocery stores launched in Ontario last year due to unsustainable customer bases. The stores were introduced as part of Loblaw’s strategy to offer lower-priced items and test new concepts, but only one location will continue operating.
For more details on these stories and other updates, visit CBC’s website. Stay informed with Marketplace’s investigations and news coverage, and don’t miss out on the latest developments shaping consumer trends and health issues.
