 Bulk email extortion scam targets Australians Criminals are emailing people and falsely claiming they have hacked into their computers or webcams and have access to compromising images and videos of them. These criminals are threatening people by saying they will release the images and videos unless they’re paid. They include personal details such as birth dates and addresses in the emails to intimidate people into sending them money. These personal details are most likely from previous public data breaches. Anyone receiving this scam email should know that there is no evidence that the criminals sending these emails really do have access to people’s webcam or computer. There have been hundreds of reports recently of people who have been targeted in this way. How to spot the scam How to spot the scam You receive an unexpected contact from someone claiming to have compromising sexual information about you. The scammer threatens you and tells you to pay money or the information will be released. The scammer pressures you to act quickly to avoid embarrassment and reputational damage. How the scam works Scammers send you an email falsely claiming that your computer or webcam has been hacked and that compromising sexual images or videos of you have been recorded. The scammers threaten to release these compromising images or videos if they aren’t paid cryptocurrency to a specified address. The emails include your birth date, full name and, in some cases, mobile number and home address. This makes them seem more real. What you should know If you receive emails like this, don’t respond and don’t pay any money. There is no evidence that the scammers who send these emails have access to your webcam or computer. The personal details contained in the emails have most likely come from previous public data breaches. This scam is a type of threat and impersonation scam. In these kinds of scams, criminals threaten you so you will pay them money. Speak up and report before handing over money to someone who threatens you. Visit our website to find out more. Stay protected. STOP – Don’t give money or personal information to anyone if unsure. Delete the email. CHECK – Contact a computer specialist if you have concerns about the security of your device. PROTECT – If a scammer has taken your money or personal details, contact your bank or card provider immediately to report the scam. Ask them to stop any transactions. Information on how to avoid scams after a data breach is available on the Scamwatch website. If you’ve been affected There is no shame in getting emails like this. It can happen to anybody. If you have provided personal information call IDCARE on 1800 595 160. When you report the scam, the people who read your report understand how you are feeling. You are not alone. Contacting support services can help you understand what happened but also tells authorities about scam activities so they can work on making it harder for scams to succeed. If you’re worried about your safety or someone else’s, call the police or go to your nearest police station. Help others by reporting scams to Scamwatch. Resources for people experiencing financial hardship The official number for the National debt helpline is 1800 007 007. Call the Good Shepherd No Interest Loans (NILs) team on 13 64 57. Who is the National Anti-Scam Centre? The National Anti-Scam Centre is where government and industry work together to protect Australians. We’re harnessing shared resources and smarter analytics to identify blind spots, strengthen weak links and use data to react faster, stopping scams before they happen. Our aim is to make Australia a harder target for scammers. For more information about how to avoid or report a scam, visit the Scamwatch website. We don’t use links in these emails. Not clicking on links in emails and messages is one of the easiest ways to protect yourself from scams. If you have any doubts about an email’s source, verify the sender by independent means – use their official contact details to check the email is legitimate before clicking on links or opening attachments. |
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