Sextortion scams are far from glamorous. These attacks involve a scammer claiming to have compromising photos or videos of their target engaged in explicit activities—often suggesting this footage was captured through their online behavior. The scammer then threatens to release this material unless a ransom is paid.
These scams were easier to dismiss in the past, but recent versions have escalated, including the victim's personal details like names and even images of their homes. Let’s break down how these attacks work, so you can recognize and respond to them if they ever land in your inbox.
Sextortion scams rely on two key assumptions:
The scam typically starts with a hacker contacting the target, claiming to have recorded them engaging with explicit material. The hacker demands payment and threatens to send the footage to the victim’s contacts if they refuse.
This tactic plays on a deep human fear of shame and social rejection. The threat feels particularly believable if the victim has engaged in this behavior, which is why these scams can be so effective.
The consequences are serious—potentially embarrassing the victim and damaging their relationships with family, friends, or coworkers. The fear of such humiliation makes paying the ransom seem like an easy way out, even though it isn’t.
While more people are aware of scams today, many still struggle with how to respond effectively. Scammers have adapted by making their threats seem more credible, often using personal data harvested from breaches.
Some of the more sinister attacks include not just passwords but also private details like photos of the victim’s home or their actual address. Seeing such personal information takes the fear and believability of the scam to a new level.
Remember that an address is just another piece of personal data, like a password. In data breaches, scammers can quickly obtain information like email addresses, usernames, and, yes, even home addresses.
Once they have this, they can look up images of the victim’s property from real estate websites or other online sources. Even though finding this information is relatively easy, the personal nature of an address makes it more likely for people to fall for the scam.
Unfortunately, sextortion scams have increasingly targeted minors, leading to tragic outcomes in some cases. Between October 2022 and March 2023, there was a reported 20% rise in sextortion scams against minors compared to the previous year. The wide range of platforms young people use—smartphones, gaming consoles, tablets—makes them vulnerable to these attacks.
The U.S. Department of Justice is actively combating this trend. In one case, four men from Delaware were charged with attempting to extort nearly $7 million from victims worldwide, collecting around $1.9 million before being caught. If found guilty, they could face up to 20 years in prison.
If you find yourself targeted by a sextortion scam, follow these steps to protect yourself:
If you are targeted, report the scam to the FBI and the Better Business Bureau.
Remember, security is crucial both at home and in the workplace. If you think your business could benefit from enhanced security measures, contact us at (713) 979-2090 for more information.
About the author
Zinc has been serving the Texas area since 2017, providing IT Support such as technical helpdesk support, computer support, and consulting to small and medium-sized businesses.
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