the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Saddle River NJ, the New York State Police are alerting the public to a growing nationwide sextortion scam in which scammers use email addresses to intimidate victims into paying large sums of money. These scammers, often armed with personal information obtained illegally from the dark web, use threats of embarrassment to coerce victims into paying via Bitcoin.
In many cases, the scammers contact victims, claiming to have access to their personal information and, in some instances, even including a photo of the victim’s home. They then demand payment in Bitcoin, warning that failure to comply will result in them sharing compromising content with the victim’s entire contact list.
To heighten the fear, scammers often claim they have installed software on the victim’s device, granting them access to personal accounts and tracking internet usage. They falsely state they have images of the victim viewing pornographic material and threaten to release these images within 24-48 hours unless the victim makes a payment.
Despite the threats, authorities emphasize that the scammers do not have access to the victim’s devices or personal information. These are simply intimidation tactics designed to cause panic.
If you receive such an email, the New York State Police advise taking the following steps:
- Do not engage with the sender or share any personal details, including birthdates, phone numbers, social security numbers, or financial information.
- Block the sender and delete the email.
- Report the incident to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at www.ic3.gov.
If you believe you are a victim of sextortion or identity theft, the FBI encourages you to contact your local FBI office or call 1-800-CALL-FBI. Local law enforcement agencies, including the New York State Police, can also assist with criminal investigations.
Stay vigilant and protect yourself from these scams by being cautious with unsolicited emails and reporting suspicious activity promptly.
Join the new Saddle River Valley, Ramapo and Pascack Valley Communities Facebook group
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1931704860512551/
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I got one of those. anyone who falls for this obvious scam its a fool