A police investigation is under way after an eight-year-old girl was targeted in a sextortion plot.
Parents at an Edinburgh primary school have been warned to check their children’s social media accounts amid reports of a predator impersonating pupils on Snapchat.
Police Scotland said a probe has been launched following several complaints of indecent images being shared online in the Scottish capital.
One mother said her eight-year-old daughter fell victim to the sextortion.
She said the “beast” made fake accounts of the girl and her friends, demanding embarrassing videos and pictures amid threats to hack into their phones and post everything online.
It is understood a number of other pupils were also targeted.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “An investigation is under way after we received several reports in February 2025 relating to indecent images being shared on an online platform in Edinburgh.
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“Enquiries are ongoing and we are working closely with a number of partner agencies.”
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The school’s headteacher has written to families urging them to check the youngsters’ social media accounts and to screenshot, block and report any suspicious activity.
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The school said it is working closely with colleagues from the child protection team within Police Scotland.
A spokesperson for The City of Edinburgh Council said: “It would be inappropriate to comment while an investigation by Police Scotland is ongoing.”
Snapchat has been contacted for comment.
