Imagine checking your email and finding a message from an unknown sender claiming they have compromising photos or videos of you. They threaten to expose this material to your friends, family, or the public in 24 hours unless you pay. It is terrifying. But don’t panic, this could be an empty threat and will help you understand why.
This blackmail tactic is likely a sextortion email, a scam where the cybercriminal threatens to expose explicit images or videos unless you pay them. Whether this criminal has the content, their messaging is designed to manipulate and scare you into compliance. But don’t panic! Even if someone has embarrassing content featuring you, you have options to protect yourself from exploitation or exposure. 
Understanding Sextortion
The goal of a sextortion email is to emotionally trigger people so that they will “take their bait” and extort victims for money against their will by threatening to publish explicit and sensitive images or videos unless the victim meets their demands. Also, the scammers may claim to be in control of devices such as computers or mobile just to make the victim feel fear, insecurity, and vulnerability.
Common Sextortion Email Tactics
So, how does a sextortion email work? Cybercriminals send these threatening emails for one of four reasons:
- Fake claims of compromising photos, videos, or information.
This tactic tries to scare the victim by attaching compromising content or information to get a response and action that benefits the perpetrator.
- False claims about having access to devices and personal accounts.
The scammers will convince the victim that the devices such as computers or mobile phones are being manipulated remotely to make it look like the personal information is completely exposed and the victim is being monitored.
- Emotional manipulation through urgency or threats to avoid consequences.
This is the most delicate tactic, a sextortion scam can turn even more dangerous when the scammers decide to threaten the victim by exposing the evidence or getting in contact with friends, colleagues, or family of the victim.
- Ransom demands payments in gift cards, crypto, or other digital payments if you want to avoid exposure.
Another way of threatening the victim is by requesting a payment to prevent the exposure of the evidence of personal information. The most common payment method is via Bitcoin, but be careful there, some scammers would want more than money, asking for compromising services instead.
Recognizing A Sextortion Email
These types of email scams are often sent massively to thousands of people at once, with no specific target of individuals. In many cases, emails will demand action from the victims, such as making a payment or clicking on a link. For example:
“I know that calling [telephone number] or visiting [city address] would be a better way to have a chat with you if you don’t cooperate. Don’t even try to escape from this, it’s pointless. You have 24 hours to pay me $5000 via Bitcoin if you want to continue your daily life like this never occurred and you will not ever hear back again from me. [BTC address].”
Here are some common characteristics of sextortion email:
- Misspelled or poorly written text
- Evidence of a threat such as revealing sensitive data: passwords, personal accounts, or the name of a friend or a family member
- A false claim to have installed malware such as a Remote Access Trojan (RAT) that can take control of your devices or email account
Is The Email A Phishing Attempt or A Real Blackmail Threat?
Despite the claims we explained above, the scammer does not have access to the victim’s device or personal information, remember email scams are just spam. However, the exception is when you know the sender personally and that person attaches real photos and videos to the email.
It is important to be aware that everyone is exposed to cyber blackmail especially if you are not being careful with the personal information and content you share online. In this case, not only you but your family or friends may be at risk for online harassment.
So, take time to ask yourself these questions that will help you to prevent being a victim of sextortion email:
- Have I shared intimate or compromising material with someone online?
- Have I communicated with people I don’t know well or haven’t met in person?
- Could this email be trying to exploit information from previous conversations?
What To Do If You Receive A Sextortion Email
If you receive a sextortion email, remember that these threats are meant to scare you. Don’t give your blackmailer the upper hand by making decisions out of fear. Put aside the embarrassment you feel and know that the best thing to do is to seek help from professionals who can help you stop these sextortion emails and their sender.
- Do Not Panic & Do Not Comply
You should not respond to the sextortion email or pay any money
- Do Not Delete the Email
Just like a real crime scene, you don’t want to damage the evidence. Ignore the email while you take the next step.
Get in contact with Digital Investigations to help you combat sextortion scams, give us a call at 800.790.4524
What To Do If You Are A Victim of Sextortion.
Being targeted by a sextortion scam can be an unnerving experience but you have a solution to deal with phishing email and blackmail scams now.
At Digital Investigations, our expert analysts will find these criminals’ hidden IP addresses to know their exact location and other unique device identifiers using our IP-to-location approach.
But what happens next? Once we track them, we will intercede on behalf of you, our client, to ensure they delete their leverage and stop harassing you.
Remember that you are not alone in this! Call 800.790.4524 for a free consultation and dark web check-up. Or visit digitalinvestigation.com to find more ways we can help to effectively combat sextortion and other cybercrimes.
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Protect yourself from a sextortion email! If someone claims to have embarrassing content featuring you, check here your options to prevent exposure.
If you need help with sextortionists
Read also our article on how to protect yourself from Google Hangouts Scam.
If you need help with sextortion emails, please feel free to contact our sextortion helpline. We are ready to help you with expert advice & Services 24/7. We hope, that now you understand How to stop sextortion email.
References:
1. https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/scams-and-safety/common-frauds-and-scams/sextortion
2. https://www.trendmicro.com/vinfo/us/security/definition/cybercriminals
3. https://www.vcccd.edu/departments/information-technology/information-security/bitcoin-extortion
