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SeanD
Community Manager - Retired
3,396 Views
Message 1 of 2

Rise in reported Sextortion type scams - Update 24/09/20

Hi Everone,

Following on with our threads, here on Community, around various scam doing the rounds, I have been alerted that we are seeing a rise in reports of sextortion email scams.

These types of scam are particularly nasty and often cause fear and distress in victims.  Typically, these scams involve sending an email to a potential victim and stating that the scammer has gained access to your computer and has obtained intimate footage of the victim or details of the victim accessing adult content on the internet.  The scammer goes on to threaten that if you don't pay a ransom, usually in Bitcoin, then the scammer is going to send details to all your contacts.

Sometimes, the scammer will include confirmation of a password you may have set for an online account, or it might look like the email has come from your own email address.  This can often trick people into paying a ransom because the scammer can quote a genuine password.  

 

What to do if you receive such an email?

 

  • Don't respond or make any payments to the scammer
  • Immediately change the password of any online account that you think may have been breached.  If you recognise the password that the scammer has confirmed then make sure to change this ASAP
  • Forward the email to phishing@bt.com
  • Mark the email as 'Spam

 

There is a lot more information available about these scams, a good resource to learn more is over on Action Frauds website, please see this article, in particular, Action fraud: sextortion scam advise 

Stay safe everyone

1 REPLY 1
SeanD
Community Manager - Retired
3,085 Views
Message 2 of 2

Re: Rise in reported Sextortion type scams

Hi Everyone,

We have received reports of another sextortion scam looking to extract money from victims.

It begins with an email in which the scammers claim to have accessed the devices on your network.  They claim that they have witnessed you watching adult content and because they have access to the devices on your network, they state they have activated your webcam and filmed you.

The scammers request a payment ($1500) to be paid in Bitcoin, failure to comply with the demand comes with a threat to send the video of you watching adult content to everyone in your contact list.  An account number for Bitcoin is included for you to make payment.

The advice remains the same,

 

What to do if you receive such an email?

 

  • Don't respond or make any payments to the scammer
  • Immediately change the password of any online account that you think may have been breached.  If you recognise the password that the scammer has confirmed then make sure to change this ASAP
  • Forward the email to phishing@bt.com
  • Mark the email as 'Spam

 

Cheers

Sean

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