What To Do With Blackmail Email – Sextortion?
Introduction
Email frauds and phishing attempts are nothing new, and some even became so popular and widespread they even turned into memes – such as the famous Nigerian prince scam. But, one type of email scam can be particularly uncomfortable – sextortion.
If you ever received a threatening email message, you know how upsetting it might get. This article will tell you more about sextortion email scam, giving you some tips on how you can stay protected, so read on!
What Are Sextortion Attacks?
While sextortion is not the only type of blackmail email, it is one of the most uncomfortable ones. The victim usually receives a threatening email asking for bitcoin. They are threatened that the other side has sensitive video material of sexual nature. The scammer threatens they will share the video if the victim doesn’t pay. The email sender usually says they have control of the victim’s device and have captured a video of the person performing a sexual act in front of a camera.
The email address used to send the threat will be fake. Most likely made to look like the victim’s own email address. Which is why many people fall for it. This causes the victim to panic. Thinking that the attacker really has control.
What To Do If You Received A Threatening Email?
If you received a threatening email asking for bitcoin, the most important thing is to ignore it. Don’t click on any of the links the email might contain, and certainly don’t pay the scammer in bitcoin. They select cryptocurrencies because they are untraceable. If you pay the fee, your money will be lost for good.
It’s important to note that sextortion emails are just scams – nobody has your private webcam videos.
Also, because scammers often threaten how they obtained victim’s leaked passwords, it is a good idea to use a password manager and two-factor authentication where applicable. A password manager will help you create stronger passwords and replace any duplicate passwords for added security.
Scan Your Computer For Malware
If you receive spam, threatening, and phishing emails often, it’s a good idea to do a full system scan for viruses. Sometimes just clicking a phishing link can infect your device. Which is why it’s imperative to have antivirus software that will protect you in real-time.
TotalAV will protect you from all known types of malware you might receive via mail, having your back in case you let your guard down and click on phishing links. It also features a rich bag of sophisticated tools including Password Vault, Ad Block Pro, Safe Site, and a VPN for safe private browsing on any location.
Even if you end up on a suspicious website, our Safe Site feature will analyze it and determine if it’s an actual webpage or a “spoofed” one that tries to imitate a legitimate website.
Therefore, install TotalAV now, and forget about worrying about your internet security ever again!