Last Updated on July 7, 2023
You most likely have been scrolling through your email account and noticed the dozens of spam emails that consist of promotions from 50% off shoes or a free month for your local gym membership. Most of these ads are true, however, there is a very high chance that you are a target for a far worse scheme, known as sextortion. In this blog, we will what sextortion emails are, the reasons why you can become a target, and how to report sextortion email once you have become a victim.
Should I worry about email sextortion?
Email sextortion is one of the many forms of this type of cybercrime and yes, you should be worried about it. Sextortion entails a blackmailer obtaining lewd images or videos of a person and threatening to expose said content online if they are not compensated. This type of extortion is becoming extremely prevalent due to the anonymity of email addresses. It’s easy to hide behind a fake email account and create dozens of different email addresses so your identity is hidden. Making it extremely difficult in finding out who’s behind the blackmail.
Why Am I Getting Sextortion Emails?
There are many reasons why a person would receive a sextortion email. It could be for money, or a more perverse reason, sexual content. The internet is filled with thousands of cybercriminals and sexual predators and it’s made it quite easy for them to lure in victims and get a hold of their personal information. Here are some examples of email sextortion scenarios that are common.
One way this malicious cybercrime manifests is through a technique known as phishing – creating fake emails disguised as popular company promotions with links embedded in them carrying malware. Once clicked, this opens up the user’s device to their hacker who can exploit sensitive media such as photos or videos for extortion-based demands.
Sextortionists often use fear as a tactic to manipulate their victims. These criminals craft intimidating emails that falsely imply they have explicit content of the recipient. Preying on individuals’ natural fears, sextortionists hope desperate victims will give in to blackmail demands without question or hesitation to prevent embarrassing images from becoming public knowledge.
Lastly, sextortionist use vulnerability to get what they want. They often use the personal information obtained from data leaks to reach out under pretenses and create fake romantic connections online, using platforms like email and chat rooms, such as Google chat. Once they’ve gained trust – or leverage over private images/videos – sextortionist will then blackmail victims by demanding money in exchange for not disclosing sensitive material publicly.
How To Report Sextortion Email?
If you’ve received an email sextortion message and want to take further action, there are a few steps you can take. First, contact your local law enforcement agency; they may be able to help investigate your case further and track down who is behind the attack. Additionally, you should also contact your internet service provider (ISP) and/or webmail provider (such as Gmail or Outlook), as they have options to report online scams. They may have additional resources available for dealing with this type of crime. Finally, consider reporting the incident to cybersecurity companies such as Cyber Investigation. We specialize in cybercrime such as sextortion and have shown great success in locating these criminals and bringing their tyranny to an end.
In summary
Email sextortion is a real and dangerous threat. While it may be embarrassing to admit that you have been victimized by such a crime, it is important to report it as soon as possible. By working together and staying aware of these scams, and learning how to report sextortion email when we are faced with them, we can help protect each other from becoming victims. If you have been the victim of email sextortion, please report it to the authorities immediately.
Report online blackmail – contact our blackmail helpline to stop sextortion
