- An Ontario woman is one of many who have received sextortion emails demanding bitcoins in exchange for not leaking compromising photos
- The scammers use personal details like names, addresses, and an images of streets from Google Maps to make the threat appear legitimate
- Police have issued warnings across Ontario, advising victims not to comply and to report these incidents
A sextortion racket has sprung up in Canada, where individuals are being threatened if they don’t send $2,000 in bitcoins to the perpetrators. The scam operates by threatening victims with the exposure of allegedly compromising material unless a ransom is paid. In one case, the fraudster claimed to have taken control of a woman’s computer and recorded inappropriate content, a common tactic in sextortion schemes. Police are advising victims not to pay up but instead report the offenses.
Victims Urged to Report Activity
Sextortion is not a new phenomenon, but it isn’t as common as other types of extortion or trap. One victim in Ontario told her story to CTV News, explaining how the scammers claimed to have “my name, address, and even a photo of the street I live on.” They demanded they payout on pain of sharing compromising photographs or her and her browser history online. Despite the pressure to act quickly, the victim recognized the scam and immediately reported it to the authorities.
Authorities in Ontario are now warning the public about a rise in these types of scams, urging individuals not to comply with the demands and to report such incidents to the police. York Regional Police (YRP) have confirmed that this sextortion scam is on the rise across Ontario, with similar cases reported in Peel and Hamilton.
Scammers Don’t Have What They Say They Have
According to police, scammers often obtain personal information, such as old passwords, from data breaches, making their threats appear more convincing. They may also use publicly available images, like those from Google Maps, to make the threats seem more real.
Law enforcement agencies are urging the public to remain vigilant. “These criminals are banking on fear and urgency to extort money,” said YRP’s Constable James Dickson.
