Blackmail Email Scams

Welcome back to Fraud Fridays! Today on the docket: Blackmail Email Scams!

Also known as Extortion Scams, these are schemes to extort money from earnest earners such as yourselves. Sure, we call them email scams, but they can realistically be run through any app or site with a messaging portal (i.e., Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram). So, how does it work? Well, let's dive in!

You receive a surprise email or message. Inside, you find the lack of details disturbing. The sender claims they have compromising images of you, text messages, conversations, or they will sometimes even claim to have evidence of your crimes. To back up these off-base claims, the scammer will claim to be police, private investigator, company representatives, or other similar identities.

This is made further worrisome by their demand. Pay for silence. They may even send several emails threatening to "expose" you. The sender, scammer, is hoping that you will believe the threats of blackmail, IT IS A SCAM.

These scams will show up randomly. This is intentional to create a sense of urgency. They have nothing on you. If you receive a blackmail email sent with urgency from someone claiming to be an officer or someone you’ve never interacted with, it’s likely a scam. Simply delete the email and block the sender if needed.

These scam emails are terrifying to receive. Remember to not click any links within suspicious emails. Take a moment to read the URL. Does it make sense? Is it spelt correctly? Are there grammatical errors? What is the blackmail sender asking for? Generally, it is a safe bet to trust your instincts. If it feels wrong, it likely is. Most importantly, don't be afraid to ask for help. Thank you very much and have a wonderful weekend!