Criminals’ latest tactic involves sending emails (or even letters via USPS) to people in an attempt to scare, intimidate and extort money from the victim. Many contain messages along the lines of “I know about the secret you’re keeping from your wife. You can ignore this letter and suffer the consequences of your family discovering what you did last week or pay me a $10,000 confidentiality fee.” Many times the request is made to be paid in Bitcoin (untraceable) along with an explanation on how to use Bitcoin to make the payment.
Social engineering scams are evolving and becoming more targeted based on demographics. Threats, intimidation and high-pressure tactics are all tell-tale signs of a scam.
The more technology evolves, the more criminals evolve. They become more creative and aggressive in the ways they attack. Be aware of the signs of a scam and take action.
If you — or someone you know — receives an email or letter like this, report it immediately to your local police, and the FBI.
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SOURCE
Federal Trade Commission Consumer Information – How to Avoid a Bitcoin Blackmail Scam