Saanich police are alerting the public to an extortion scam involving online adult content and bitcoin.
Police said they have received multiple reports about the scam, which begins with an email claiming the recipient has been found to have viewed adult material online — and that malware has captured compromising photos or videos.
The sender includes a Google street view image of the recipient’s home, along with other personal details that show the sender knows where the person lives.
They demand that money be deposited in a bitcoin wallet, and threaten to send the images to family and friends if the money isn’t forthcoming.
“Fortunately, none of the individuals who reported the scam complied with the demands and instead contacted the police,” police said in a statement.
“We urge everyone to be cautious of suspicious emails. If you receive such an email, please report it to the police.”
Police also suggest reporting such emails to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre through its online portal at .
Police offered these tips to stay safe from scammers:
• Don’t send money under pressure.
• Don’t reply to threatening messages.
• Remember that scammers will use high-pressure intimidation tactics in an effort to steal your money.
• Put your social-media profiles at the highest privacy levels.
• Limit sharing of personal details on social media.
• If you believe any of your personal information have been compromised, contact Equifax and TransUnion to flag your accounts.
• Be suspicious of any unsolicited messages or social media requests, such as those that are threatening or accuse you of owing money for a service you didn’t use or didn’t plan to receive.
