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Sextortion scams: how to protect yourself

Sextortion scams are a type of phishing attack whereby people are coerced to pay a BitCoin ransom because they have been threatened with sharing videos of themselves visiting adult websites. Be XXX-tremely cautious of such scams.



Sextortion scams are made to appear all the more credible because they provide seemingly plausible technical details about how this was achieved, and the phish can sometimes also include the individual’s password.


Phishes are designed to play on people’s emotions so that they will behave in a way which is out of character, and scams such as this are no different. The phisher is gambling that enough people will respond so that their scam is profitable; they do not know if you have a webcam, have been visiting adult websites, or the means by which you communicate with people – in short, they are guessing.


The phisher hopes to emotionally trigger people so that they will ‘take the bait’ and pay the ransom - a typical modus operandi.


What to do if you’ve received a threatening email


Don't communicate with the criminal. As with other phishing attacks, our advice is to not engage with the criminal. If you have received an email which you’re not sure about, forward it to the NCSC's Suspicious Email Reporting Service (SERS): report@phishing.gov.uk, and then delete it.


Should I pay the ransom?


If you are tempted to pay the ransom, you might be targeted with future scams, as the criminal will know they have a 'willing' customer.


Check if your accounts have been compromised


Do not worry if your password is mentioned. It has probably been discovered from a previous data breach. You can check by visiting https://haveibeenpwned.com/. Change any passwords that are mentioned. If a password you still use is included, then change it immediately. For advice on how to create good passwords, please visit some of our blog posts.


If you've already paid the ransom...


If you have been a victim of a sextortion scam and have paid the BitCoin ransom, then report it to your local police force by calling 101 or Action Fraud.


Emotional support


If you need emotional support this is available from charities such as Victim Support by calling 0808 168 9111 or visiting: https://www.victimsupport.org.uk/


 

Reporting

Report all Fraud and Cybercrime to Action Fraud by calling 0300 123 2040 or online. Forward suspicious emails to report@phishing.gov.uk. Report SMS scams by forwarding the original message to 7726 (spells SPAM on the keypad).

 

Comments


The contents of blog posts on this website are provided for general information only and are not intended to replace specific professional advice relevant to your situation. The intention of East Midlands Cyber Resilience Centre (EMCRC) is to encourage cyber resilience by raising issues and disseminating information on the experiences and initiatives of others. Articles on the website cannot by their nature be comprehensive and may not reflect most recent legislation, practice, or application to your circumstances. EMCRC provides affordable services and Trusted Partners if you need specific support. For specific questions please contact us by email.

 

EMCRC does not accept any responsibility for any loss which may arise from reliance on information or materials published on this blog. EMCRC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites that link to this site or which are linked from it.

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