New Email Extortion Scheme Targets Homeowners with Bitcoin Ransom Demands
A new email extortion scheme is making waves across the country, preying on homeowners by using publicly available images of their properties to blackmail them into paying scammers in Bitcoin. The scam has been reported by several individuals, including Michael Morimoto from Robbinsdale, Minnesota.
The scam typically begins with an email that includes the victim’s personal information, such as their name, address, and phone number. Attached to the email is a PDF document featuring an image of the victim’s home, which appears to be sourced from Google Maps or similar street view services. The email threatens to release compromising content or personal information unless the victim sends a specified amount of Bitcoin.
In Michael Morimoto’s case, he received an email demanding $2,000 in Bitcoin, threatening to expose compromising images and videos of him if he didn’t comply. Despite the alarming nature of the email, cybersecurity experts like Sean Lanterman suggest that these scammers are likely operating from abroad and do not possess any actual compromising material. The scheme relies on the victim’s fear and the legitimacy of the public information used.
Lanterman advises individuals who receive such extortion emails to avoid replying, not to pay any money, and to report the email to relevant authorities. He also suggests checking if personal information has been compromised through data breaches using tools like haveibeenpwned.com. The best action is to delete the email and not engage with the scammers.
