Report by Paula Antolini, April 29, 2020, 12:45PM EDT
The Bethel Police Department has received several calls regarding Email “sextortion” scams. The scams consist of people receiving an email that claims their computer has been hacked, and that the scammer has obtained intimate video recordings of them through cell phone or computer cameras (most common claim is alleging the victim’s use of a pornographic website).
The emails can range from being generic in nature, to having one of the victim’s passwords for an online account as the subject line; the email may even appear to have been sent from the person’s own email address. Cases where the victim’s password, or other information, is within the message is usually the result of another account having been previously compromised and that information being obtained through the dark web. This allows the scammer to make it seem as though they have truly hacked your account, when in fact…they have not.
Generally, the scammer claims to have access to the person’s contact list and threatens to send the intimate recordings to the person’s contacts unless a payment is made through Bitcoin or other cryptocurrency payments. This scam is a typical “phishing” type of scam where the scammer is seeking information or compliance. No one is uniquely targeted.
If you happen to receive one of these emails:
1. Do not respond
2. Do not send any payments to the scammer
3. Immediately change passwords on any online accounts that may have been breached
4. Delete the scam email and mark it as spam so that your email filter removes it
5. Use different password variations for each online account. This step should protect you in the future because if one account is breached, no other account should be affected
6. Lastly, use the website: https://haveibeenpwned.com/
This website will permit you to see if your email address is listed as being affected by one of the large data breaches included on their database. If your email address is listed, make sure you update your password on any of the affected sites.
In the event that you have fallen victim to the email, AND suffered a financial loss as a result, contact the Bethel Police Department to make a report. If you have NOT suffered a financial loss, follow the aforementioned steps.
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