Criminals using pictures of your house for extortion
HARRISBURG, Pa. (WKBN) — The Pennsylvania Attorney General is warning everyone about a new cybercrime where scammers may send you a picture of your home in an email and then try to extort money from you.
The cyber fraud is referred to as sextortion and involves a demand for money or the criminal will publicize alleged explicit materials about you. The fraud can also involve blackmail over a target's browsing history.
It's likely the criminals don't have any of the materials they allege, and a person's house can easily be found on Google maps. However, it is possible that the criminal has obtained some personal, sensitive information, which is why it's imperative to be careful what you are posting on social media, sending in a text message or by email.
Like other scams, the cybercriminal will want money or personal information to steal your identity. They may ask for payments in Bitcoin or cryptocurrency and will provide a QR code or link to transfer the money. Do not scan the QR code or communicate with the cyber-criminal.
Tips to Keep Yourself Safe From Sextortion:
When speaking to someone online, search their name to see if it's been reported to have been used in a prior crime or if it's the name of a famous person.
Never send compromising or explicit images of yourself to anyone, no matter who they are – or who they say they are.
Search the internet for one or two sentences from the email to confirm it is actually spam.
No matter what the email threatens, do not respond and delete the email.
Do not open attachments or click links in emails from people you do not know. Doing so leaves you vulnerable to identity theft and malware.
Never send money or buy a gift card, or do anything to comply with the demands in the email.
Do a security check on your computer and install security software.
Enable two-factor authentication on your important accounts.
Change passwords often, and consider getting a password manager to ensure your passwords are strong and unique.
Cover your webcam when not in use to give you peace of mind.
Check to see if your email was compromised in a security breach and change passwords as necessary.
Never answer your phone unless you recognize the number. If it is a legitimate call, the person will leave a voicemail.
If you or someone you know believes they are a victim of phishing sextortion or financially motivated sextortion, immediately report the activity to law enforcement. You can report these kinds of cyber crimes to the FBI by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI or by visiting ic3.gov .
You may also submit a complaint to the Office of Attorney General's Bureau of Consumer Protection online by emailing , or by calling the office at 1-800-441-255. When filing a complaint, be sure to include the email or other form of contact from the potential cyber-criminal.
