Sextortion Scams: What They Are and How to Protect Yourself

Sextortion scams are alarming. Scammers claim to have hacked into your computer, capturing video footage of you engaging in private, adult activities, as well as the content on your screen. Their threat? Pay up, or they’ll send the footage to all of your contacts.

Recently, these scammers have become even more convincing by including victims' names and pictures of their homes. Let’s break down how these scams work and what you should do if one of these messages lands in your inbox.

How Sextortion Scams Work

Sextortion scams rely on two key assumptions:

1. Many people access sexually explicit content online.
2. Most people want to keep their private activities secret.

The scam typically unfolds like this: a hacker contacts a person, claiming they’ve hacked into their computer, seen their browsing history, and recorded video of what they were doing while viewing the content. To add pressure, the hacker threatens to send the footage to everyone in their contact list.

Now, imagine being in that position. If you’ve ever viewed such content, this threat could seem credible. You might panic at the thought of intimate footage being sent to your boss, parents, friends, coworkers, or even underage family members like nieces or nephews. Suddenly, paying the scammer to prevent this becomes tempting.

Scammers Are Adding "Proof"

In today’s world, many people are aware of common scams. To make their threats more believable, sextortion scammers often include personal information, such as a password obtained from a data breach.

Recently, scammers have escalated their tactics by adding even more convincing “proof,” like photos of the victim’s home or references to their physical address. Seeing a picture of your house alongside a threatening message makes the scam feel even more real.

An Address is Just Another Form of Private Data

It’s important to understand that your address, like passwords and emails, is often stolen in data breaches. Once scammers have this information, it’s easy for them to find public images of your home through simple online searches. By automating this process, they can carry out these scams on a larger scale, making their threats feel more legitimate.

The Threat of Sextortion is Growing—Especially for Young People

Sextortion scams have been increasingly targeting minors, with devastating effects. In some tragic cases, victims felt there was no way out. Between October 2022 and March 2023, sextortion attacks on minors increased by 20% compared to the previous year.

The situation is made worse by the fact that these scams can be delivered through various platforms—cell phones, gaming consoles, and tablets, all of which are commonly used by young people.

On a positive note, in a recent win for justice, four men from Delaware were indicted for attempting to extort nearly $7 million from victims worldwide, successfully extorting $1.9 million. If convicted, they face up to 20 years in prison for charges including cyberstalking, interstate threats, money laundering, and wire fraud.

How to Avoid and Respond to Sextortion Scams

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) offers the following tips to help you avoid falling victim to sextortion scams:

• Research your online contacts: If you're interacting with someone online, search their name to see if it’s linked to past scams.
• Never send compromising images: Avoid sending any private or compromising content to others, regardless of who they claim to be.
• Seek legal advice: If you’ve been targeted by a sextortion scam, consult a lawyer.
• Verify scam emails: Search online or use BBB Scam Tracker to check if similar emails have been reported as scams.
• Don’t engage: No matter how threatening the email sounds, don’t reply—delete it.
• Avoid links and attachments: Don’t open links or attachments from unknown sources as they may install malware or lead to identity theft.
• Don’t pay: Never send money, gift cards, or follow any of the scammer’s instructions.
• Secure your devices: Perform a security check on your computer and install security software.
• Enable two-factor authentication: Use two-factor authentication (2FA) to add an extra layer of protection to your accounts.
• Change your passwords frequently: Consider using a password manager to create strong, unique passwords.
• Cover your webcam: Covering your webcam when not in use can provide peace of mind.
• Check for data breaches: Use websites like Have I Been Pwned to see if your email has been compromised in a data breach, and update your passwords if needed.

If you’re targeted, report the scam to the FBI and the BBB.

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Protecting your security is critical, both personally and professionally. If you need help safeguarding your business, give us a call at 520-545-0691. We're here to help.