Jim Wilson / The New York Times
A cellphone user in Palo Alto, Calif., Aug. 19, 2016.
Thursday, April 16, 2020 | 6:05 p.m.
The threats sent through email are daunting: Pay up or we’ll release intimate personal video recordings from your cellphone to your close contacts.
It’s also believable, according to Metro Police, because scammers sometimes obtain certain data in large-scale breaches, such as passwords and phone numbers, to make it appear like they have more information than they do.
Police said the racket is a growing trend online called “sextortion” and advised would-be victims to not pay the so-called ransom.
“Sextortion is a type of email scam where cybercriminals attempt to extort money from victims by claiming to have a recording of them engaged in intimate acts,” police said. Attackers demand money in exchange for not leaking the files within 24 to 48 hours.
“Cybercriminals will play on emotions to scam victims out of their money, and this is why it is crucial that you assess the situation and not just give your money away in a panic,” police wrote in a public service announcement.
Metro’s Cyber Investigative Group and the FBI have been fielding an increase of such reports.
Police provided tips on how to steer away from compromising positions:
• Don’t comply with the email threats, nor send money or gift cards.
• Use strong, unique passwords for each account, and change them often.
• Use multifactor authentication.
• Cover webcams when you’re not using them.
• Check haveibeenpwned.com or dehashed.com to see if your email address has been compromised.
To file a report, visit ic3.gov/default.aspx.
