Should I be worried about sextortion email?

First, if a “sextortion” email appears in your inbox, stay calm. Do not answer it and do not pay money to the attacker. Nobody will actually blackmail you; it’s just spam. Even if you get an email that looks like it was sent from your own account, ignore it.

Why did I get a sextortion email?

Extortion, and especially “sextortion” emails, are becoming more frequent, and they can be extremely alarming when received. Such emails work by using threats to extort money, evoking intense fear. Instead, threats of harm are used to extort money. …

What should you do if you receive a suspicious email in your inbox?

If you suspect that an email or text message you received is a phishing attempt:

1. Do not open it.
2. Delete it immediately to prevent yourself from accidentally opening the message in the future.
3. Do not download any attachments accompanying the message.
4. Never click links that appear in the message.

Are sextortion email true?

I work for a security company and know that this type of email is common. It’s called a “sextortion” email and it’s almost always a phishing attempt filled with false threats.

What to do if you get scammed on the phone?

Report Telephone Scams. However, federal agencies don’t investigate individual cases of telephone scams. Report telephone scams to the Federal Trade Commission, either online or by phone at 1-877-382-4357. This is the primary government agency that collects scam complaints.

What should you do if you receive an email from Bleeping Computer?

Bleeping Computer further notes that if you did receive this type of email, you should delete it and do an antivirus scan of your computer. This scam echoes a similar scheme that popped up over the summer. In that version, the scammers claimed to have targets’ passwords and had recorded videos of them masturbating.

What to do if you get scammed for a ticket?

Report ticket scams. There are several options to report a ticket scam. Contact your state consumer protection office. Contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) using the Online Complaint Assistant. File a local police report, especially if you met the scammer in person or have a picture of them to give the police.

How do I report spam calls to the government?

You can also call 1-877-382-4357 (TTY: 1-866-653-4261). The FTC is the primary government agency that collects scam complaints. Report all robocalls and unwanted telemarketing calls to the Do Not Call Registry. Report caller ID spoofing to the Federal Communications Commission.