SCAM OF THE WEEK: Don’t Fall for This Blackmail Scam

They obtain your personal information through data breaches and then use photos of your home accessed from Google Maps to play on your emotions. They claim that they have videos of you and other personal information that they will release if you don't pay a ransom.

In this scam, you receive an email with an attachment containing a photo of your home and your street address. The scammers claim they know where you live and that they’ve hacked into your home computer to take videos of you using its camera. Then, they threaten to release the footage if you don’t pay them with Bitcoin immediately. The photo of your home makes it seem like they could have actual videos of you, making their scam terrifying and convincing. The catch is that the cybercriminals don’t have any videos of you in your home. They are trying to scare you into giving them your money!

Follow these tips to avoid falling victim to this blackmail scam:

• Never click a link or download an attachment in an unexpected email.
• If you receive a similar email, do not respond or pay the ransom. Attacks like these are designed to catch you off guard and trigger you to act impulsively.
• Be careful with the personal information you share online. Cybercriminals can use this information to target you in phishing attacks.

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