Online sextortion scams have become increasingly prevalent, posing a significant threat to individuals nationwide.
Victims receive emails from senders claiming possession of compromising photos or videos, such as explicit images. For a fee, these scammers promise to keep the content secret. However, if the recipient refuses to comply, they threaten to release the material publicly and notify friends and family.
Scammers are now incorporating images of victims’ homes to enhance the intensity of their sextortion threats.
Despite widespread awareness, scammers persist in using this model across various platforms, highlighting its continued effectiveness. However, a new wave of updated sextortion scams is emerging, indicating a potential shift in tactics.
The most recent iteration of this scam introduces a disturbing twist: allegations of infidelity. Scammers are claiming to possess evidence of a cheating spouse, even using the victim’s real name in their correspondence.
The Cheating Spouse Sextortion Scam
The earliest reports of this new sextortion strategy surfaced in a community forum last month.
A user shared a screenshot of an email purporting to target their partner. In this email, the scammer referenced the victim’s real name and proceeded to mention the spouse’s name as well. This alarming tactic raises the stakes of the scam.
The email alleges to hold proof of the spouse’s infidelity and invites the recipient to access this supposed evidence via a link. Although the initial recipient refrained from clicking the link, others reported similar experiences, with some revealing that the scammer spoofed a legitimate email address.
Many individuals in the discussion reported receiving these scams shortly after getting married, indicating that scammers may be leveraging publicly available information, potentially sourced from wedding planning websites or public records.
This version of the scam is recognized as an evolution of traditional sextortion tactics, although the exact strategy employed once a victim engages with the fraud remains unclear. Those who clicked on the links often reported being redirected to dubious login pages, with possible motivations ranging from payment demands to malware installation.
Given the recent findings of a significant data breach at a background check company that compromised billions of individuals’ information, it’s evident that scammers have an extensive pool of personal data at their disposal.
In light of these alarming developments, recipients of such emails should avoid clicking any links contained within the messages.
