Cyber criminals are targeting people in Northern Ireland via email in ‘sextortion’ scams.
The PSNI has received more than 40 reports of scams in recent days.
People are told that if they don’t pay £2,000 they’re threatened that X-rated or compromising photos of them will be sent to their families, or that images/footage of them accessing pornographic websites will be released.
In many cases, a legitimate former password is mentioned to gain the reader’s attention and to make the claim seem authentic.
A senior officer is appealing to people not to be duped by fraudsters attempting to swindle them.
Between Thursday 16 April and yesterday morning (Saturday 18 April), there have been more that 40 reports to PSNI of cyber criminals threatening people in ‘sextortion’ scams, all via email.
Most of the reports made to police are the same, and involve emails sent to recipients.
Others are phishing emails where scammers tell the recipient they have their password in an attempt to convince them they’re a genuine threat. They claim they have access to indecent images of the person and will release them publicly unless they pay the £2,000.
Chief Superintendent Simon Walls says scammers will stop at nothing to dupe people, even during the global Covid-19 pandemic.
“Thankfully, in relation to the reports we have received in the last few days, people appear to be aware of the fraudsters and it appears they haven’t fallen for their scams.
“Scammers are ruthless, unscrupulous individuals who don’t care about the impact of their actions on victims, which can sometimes can be life changing and which often has a significant impact. All scammers care about is getting money from their victims,” he said.
Chief Superintendent Walls said now that young people are spending more time at home, parents should take extra care to keep an eye on their child’s online activity and what sites they are accessing.
Chief Superintendent Walls said: “It’s really important that parents and guardians know what their loved ones’ online activity is, who their children are engaging with and what sites they are visiting. It’s also important people have a conversation with their loved ones, and with each other, so they are aware of the extraordinary lengths scammers will go to and the abhorrent tactics they will employ.
“And, to any young person who may receive or has received one of these emails, please don’t worry. Speak to your parent/guardian or someone you trust and do not reply to the email.”
A small number of the recent scams reported have been of the more traditional type, where scammers have claimed to be calling from a bank and have asked people for their bank details, or where someone has been told they are due a refund after their MoT was cancelled and they need their bank details to issue the refund. One report was about workmen taking money from a householder for work yet to be completed.
Chief Superintendent Walls said: “Never ever give out any personal or financial information to an unverified source via email or over the phone.
“Only ever give that type of sensitive information to a verified source, and I would urge people who receive any of these types of email not to interact or reply to the scammers, but to forward details on to Action Fraud and contact us.
“People who receive such an email where the scammers claim to have their password should change their passwords as soon as possible. Please, do all you can to stop scammers taking your money.
“I would urge people to be aware of cold callers and people claiming to carry out work on their house for a price, which will often be too good to be true. Be on your guard and do what you can to protect yourself financially,” he added.
Action Fraud can be contacted via their website www.actionfraud.police.uk or by phoning 0300 123 2040. Police can be contacted on the non-emergency number 101.
For further advice and information visit www.nidirect.gov.uk/scamwiseni or the ScamwiseNI Facebook page @scamwiseni
Please also see https://www.psni.police.
Here is an example of a ‘sextortion’ email received (warning – explicit content)
I’m aware, *********, is your password.
I need your 100% attention for the up coming 24 hrs, or I may make sure you that you live out of guilt for the rest of your lifetime.
Hello there, you don’t know me. However I know pretty much everything about you. Your personal fb contact list, mobile phone contacts as well as all the virtual activity in your computer from past 134 days.
Including, your self pleasure video, which brings me to the main motive why I ‘m writing this specific mail to you.
Well the last time you visited the adult material webpages, my spyware was triggered inside your personal computer which ended up logging a eye-catching video clip of your masturbation act by activating your web camera.
(you got a exceptionally strange preference by the way lol)
I have the full recording. If perhaps you think I ‘m fooling around, just reply proof and I will be forwarding the recording randomly to 7 people you’re friends with.
It may be your friend, co workers, boss, mother and father (I’m not sure! My software program will randomly pick the contact details).
Will you be able to look into anyone’s eyes again after it? I question it…
Nonetheless, it does not need to be that way.
I’m going to make you a one time, non negotiable offer.
Buy $ 2000 in bitcoin and send them on the down below address:
(If you don’t understand how, look online how to acquire bitcoin. Do not waste my valuable time)
If you send this ‘donation’ (let’s call this that?). After that, I will disappear and never ever contact you again. I will eliminate everything I have concerning you. You may proceed living your current ordinary day to day life with absolutely no stress.
You have got 24 hours in order to do so. Your time starts as quickly you check out this e mail. I have got an unique code that will notify me once you read this email therefore do not try to play smart.