Four Canberra teenagers, aged 15 to 18, will face court after allegedly blackmailing people they had targeted through online dating applications.
An 18-year-old Mawson man will face the ACT Magistrates court on Friday, while three male teenagers - a 15 and 16 year old from Canberra's south and a 16-year-old from the north - will face the Children's Court, facing charges related to blackmail.
In two separate incidents in January, police say the four had been using online dating apps to arrange meetings, then threatening and blackmailing the people they had contacted.
ACT Policing Criminal Investigations Superintendent Ben Cartwright said those contacted had done the right thing by coming forward.
"Often an element of blackmail is the threat not to contact the police. These victims did the right thing by coming forward and that's allowed us to identify the alleged offenders and put them before court," Mr Cartwright said.
"When you plan to meet someone you don't know for the first time, it's best to meet in a public place. Let a friend know when and where you plan to meet up and, if possible, take a friend with you.
"Offenders may use the content of online conversations to blackmail their victims or may arrange to meet up with victims and then threaten them with violence.
"It's important that people using these sites remain aware of the possibility that the person they're talking with may not be sincere."
He said it was still possible others had been contacted by the offenders and he encouraged them to come forward and contact police on 131 444.