Sextortion scam email uses pictures of your home to intimidate

LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) - A new and terrifying scam is hitting email inboxes.

The sender insists they know where you live and can see everything you're doing in your home and on your phone. Of course, they demand thousands of dollars.

"Is visiting [address] a more convenient way to reach in case you don't cooperate?"

That's how a long, alarming email attachment to Nicci Pucci started, complete with a picture of the outside of her home. The writer claims they had remove access to her phone and could see everything Pucci was doing in the privacy of her own home.

"It said 'we're going to release all of your terrible things that you don't want anyone to see...unless you send us $1,900 in Bitcoin," Pucci said.

"Do not sent the money. It's a scam," FBI Assistant Special Agent in Charge Rafik Mattar stressed. "We don't believe they have any images. We don't believe there's any validity or truth to what the actual threat is."

He said the scammers are taking advantage of information that's already out there, like your address. They they go to a map application like Google Maps and screenshot a picture of your home to pretend like they've been there.

"They are preying on folks' fear and it's an effective tactic," Mattar added.

If you see an email like this in your inbox, he recommends taking a breath and take a step back. This con, and many others, try to scare you into sending money within a short time frame. And once you do, your money is gone. Taking a step back can help you recognize it is a scam.

Mattar also recommends that if the email comes with an attachment, don't open it. Don't click on any links or scan any QR codes inside either.

"If you click on a link or take an other action, it allows the sender to now have access by installing some sort of malware on your device. Now, perhaps, they can access your webcam or more importantly, your personal information, your real full name, your date of birth, account information," he expanded.

If you're still worried the scam might be real, call the FBI or police. Mattar said someone should walk you through the letter to help you recognize it's a scam.

And if you get the email and immediately recognize it as a scam, still report it to police or the FBI. The FBI number to call is 1 (800) CALLFBI or 1 (800) 225-5324. You can also go here to fill out an online report or visit the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) .

"The more tips that we receive about these, the more we can uncover a larger scheme," Mattar continued. "It's not just targeting one person. They want to send it to hundreds, or if not, thousands of people."