1971 marked the first time an email was sent. According to records, there are over 3.9 billion email accounts. They say that over half your inbox is made up of spam. Beneath the convenience of the internet bares the question is email use safe? In this article, we will also look at the sextortion email examples.
The online scam known as cyber sextortion exploits people’s fear that their most intimate moments will be exposed to the public. It usually comes in the form of an email, and they are not only dangerous and unsettling but can have serious consequences in the real world as well. Sextortion emails are a serious threat to your privacy and security. Learn how to stop sextortion email scams and the steps to protect yourself from becoming a victim by knowing if they are real.
What is Email Sextortion?
Email sextortion involves the sending of an email designed to invoke fear in hundreds of recipients. The perpetrator will generally claim to have access to the victim’s webcam/passwords/etc.
Email threats like these are intended to prey on our most basic psychological instincts. You will read their generic email threat and start relating it to your interpersonal relationships. You could find yourself paying even if you have done nothing at all! They also play on the power of shame. These emails often have no basis in reality. Most of the time, they threaten the recipient with vague information causing you to fill in the rest.
Keeping these points in mind is essential. These are not personal attacks, and the chances of them being true are remote.
- Do not respond or panic this is very normal and comparable to present-day spam emails.
- Do not open any attachments, this could give them more information or open up your email to viruses.
Example Fake Sextortion Email Scams
- “Pay attention. The virus I have planted in your computer recorded you watching pornography with the video feed from Zoom. Unless you pay me 1000 $ now, I will send this video to all your online contacts”.
- Emails claiming you cheated on your partner and threatening to disclose the information unless the amount of x dollars is paid.
- Emails claiming to have your passwords and asking for money for them back. This could also include a previous password in the email.
- “A death order has been given to me”, followed by a demand of $2000, to call off the agreement.
How to Check if a Sexortionist is Telling the Truth or Not?
These attacks are not personal. Most of the time there is not any truth to these attacks. A big red flag is that they are usually very vague about the information they have and do not provide any evidence of the threat. With no credibility, the threat lost its power. Be aware that these criminals, can’t follow through with their threats and they probably don’t have any information on you.
How to Protect Yourself from Sextortion Email Scams – Example of Simple Steps
So why aren’t Email sites catching these threatening emails and how can I protect my email account? Below listed are some tips to safeguard your email.
- Check if your email data has been breached. If information is compromised it is highly suggested to change your email or password.
- Turn on two-factor authentication.
- Report and block scammers’ emails. Make sure you don’t just delete them this ensures they cannot message you again.
- Install security programs on computers and personal devices.
- Don’t send any compromising images or messages to anyone that you do not know and trust.
Conclusion
If you have received a sextortion email, do not panic. It is important to remember that these emails are sent with the intent of causing fear and distress. The best thing to do is to remain calm and take steps to protect yourself. You can find helpful information on how to report to sextortion emails by visiting Digital Investigation. If you feel like you are in danger, or if you have been targeted more than once, please seek professional help immediately from Digital Investigation.
