Last Updated on October 11, 2023

Sextortion emails are becoming a serious problem for email users. These emails typically feature a message from an unknown sender who claims to have hacked into your computer or smartphone and accessed your private information. They then threaten to share photos or videos of your sexual activities with your contacts unless a ransom is paid. This extortion can be incredibly scary, but there are ways to protect yourself. In this blog post, we’ll discuss what you need to know about sextortion emails and provide some tips on how to deal with them.

The Strategies of Sextortion Emails

When you are faced with a sextortion email, there are a couple of ways to approach the situation. This scheme aims to instill enough fear into the target so that they will give in to any demands requested. In some cases, sextortion emails don’t have any truth to them at all. The claims of having explicit content is only a scare tactic to get their victims to submit to their demands. That said, one way to approach a sextortion email is to analyze the contents of the email. Here are some examples of what you should be looking for,

Does the email address you by name? Most blackmailers find potential victims’ emails on the dark web through data breaches and leaks. Some users don’t display their name within their email address. So, if your blackmailer does not address you by your name, it’s a sign that they don’t know who you are and most likely do not have your content.

The second example of what to look out for is obvious. Your explicit content. To get their victims to submit to their demands, these criminals love to provide proof that they have their victims’ content. This is to show that their threats are real and that they mean business. If the blackmailer claims to have your content but provides no proof, it’s a bluff to scare you into sending money.

You should also see if they have found your social media accounts. When making threats, these criminals claim they will expose your nude content to your friends and family, which they have discovered through your social media accounts or contact list. Again, if these criminals do not provide photo proof of a list of contacts, they are most likely bluffing.

It’s imperative to analyze your sextortion email to ensure the threats are real. Don’t fall for empty threats that leave you with a dent in your pockets.

How to deal with sextortion email?

1. Don’t panic:

Sextortion emails are designed to make you panic and act without thinking. They typically use fear-mongering tactics to make you believe that your private information has been compromised or that the sender has access to your webcam. Whatever the case, don’t panic. Take a deep breath and assess the situation objectively. Chances are, it’s a scam.

2. Report the email:

After receiving a sextortion email, the next step is to report it to the relevant authorities. This includes your email provider, local law enforcement, and the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). Reporting the email helps identify the scammer and prevent others from falling victim to the same scam. Moreover, reporting such emails can help authorities trace the IP address and identify the perpetrator, which might result in a successful prosecution.

3. Strengthen your security:

Sextortion scams can be successful because they uncover personal information about you or gain access to your devices. To protect yourself, strengthen your security measures. Use strong passwords, activate two-factor authentication on all your accounts, and avoid sharing personal information online. Keep your antivirus and antimalware programs updated, and don’t click on links or open files from unverified sources.

4. Seek support:

If you have fallen victim to a sextortion scam, know you are not alone. Many people have gone through similar experiences and can offer support. Consider talking to a trusted friend, family member, support group, or professional counselor. With their help, you can overcome the trauma and move on from the experience.

Should I be worried about sextortion email?

Receiving a sextortion email is alarming, and you should be worried if you receive one. Sextortion emails have resulted in many victims’ exploitation and money loss. Even if you think the email may be a bluff, you must still report it. Once a blackmailer can access you, they will continue to poke you until you fall for their scheme.

There are instances where if the blackmailer doesn’t have your content, they will use another tactic to access it. Instead of providing screenshots of the content they claim they have, they will give a malware link and instruct the victim to click on it to see the content they will expose. However, if the victim does, this allows the blackmailer access to the victim’s device and data. These criminals can even use these links outside of their sextortion scheme and disguise the link as a promotional ad for your favorite retailer.

So, sextortion emails can be very dangerous. Even if you think nothing will come out of it, it’s still critical to report the harassment.

How do I stop blackmail?

Sextortionists are unreliable, meaning there is no say on how aggressively they will go after their victim. It’s better to be safe than sorry by letting experts handle the crime. The smart move is to leave it up to professionals who take such sensitive situations.

You can also report online blackmail to blackmail helplines. They will support you emotionally through this turbulent time and provide you with more resources to contact for help. Cybercrime specialists like us here at Cyber Investigation can also be helpful. We conduct our own investigation and work to gather critical information that can help land your attacker behind bars. Sextortion emails can be a scary and uncomfortable experience, but by following the above steps, you can protect yourself from their threats.