Waitemata Police are warning the public after receiving a number of recent reports of an email extortion scam.
The scammers send an email to victims telling them their computer has been hacked and a video has been taken through their webcam showing that they’ve looked at pornographic websites.
The scammers threaten to send the video to the victim’s friends and family unless they are paid $1,900 in bitcoins.
The scammers also claim to know the victim’s passwords, and in some cases list actual passwords that have been used by the victim in the past, which they’ve obtained through previously leaked online data breaches.
Police are warning anyone who receives an email of this nature that this is a scam and you should immediately delete the email.
It is also a good idea to regularly change your passwords, but it is particularly important to do so if a password listed by a scammer in the email is one that you still use.
Detective Senior Sergeant Callum McNeill says Waitemata Police are currently investigating a number of recent reports of this scam.
“Unfortunately some of the victims have been so concerned that a video of themselves would be leaked that they have paid money to the scammers.
“We ask anyone who believes they are a victim of this scam and has transferred money to contact Police by phoning 105.”
ENDS
Nick Baker/NZ Police