Southern California residents are reporting being targeted by a particular email scam. Authorities allege they use personal information to incite fear and tactics similar to sextortion.
In a release issued Friday by the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office, investigators say the scam begins with an email listing the victim’s name, phone number, and home address, and may include a photo of the victim’s home. It was explained that there is a sex. .
The scammers then wrote that they had hacked their victims’ computers and mobile phones to monitor their browsing history and habits, emphasizing references to pornographic websites.
Prosecutors say the scam emails typically attempt to confuse and create a sense of urgency for victims by threatening to send this filth to all your contacts with one click.
Authorities said the scammers tried to blackmail them by offering two alternatives to close the email:
They claim that if you ignore the email, embarrassing information will be sent “to all your contacts.” They offer to “wipe everything clean once your payment is complete,” but you’ll usually have to pay around $2,000 in “Bitcoin only.”
The public prosecutor’s office warned that this was a widespread scam using boilerplate messages targeting victims across the country. Authorities also noted that the scammers themselves are often based outside the country.
Investigators believe the scammers likely obtained the victims’ personal information “through a large-scale data breach rather than by hacking the victims’ devices.”
The release notes that images of homes are often readily available through open source searches such as Google Street View, Zillow, or other similar websites.
“When unsuspecting victims receive these threatening emails, it can be extremely upsetting,” said Ventura County District Attorney Eric Nasarenko. “The best defense against these scammers is to be aware of their tactics and take practical steps to avoid becoming a victim.”
The DA’s office provided the following practical steps residents can use to protect themselves.
As with any scam, it is important not to respond to suspects. When you communicate with a suspect, you are more likely to accidentally divulge personal information that the suspect did not have. Never click attachments or links from unknown sources. Don’t easily share personally identifying information such as your name, address, or social security number online. Use two-factor authentication for all accounts that offer two-factor authentication. This adds an extra layer of security. Monitor online social media, email, and bank accounts for suspicious activity. Change your password regularly and use a unique password for each account. If you have made an extortion payment, notify your bank or financial institution. Report any fraudulent transactions immediately so we can block or reverse the payment. Report the crime to your local police. Victims can also report scams to the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3.gov). This is a user-friendly website run by the FBI for reporting cybercrimes.
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