How to spot a sextortion scam

Sextortion scams, where fraudsters threaten to release compromising photos unless you pay a ransom, are on the rise. Hackers are sending emails saying that they’ve got into your computer and have evidence of you visiting porn websites.The email quotes a real password you’ve used. The scammer, having thoroughly scared you, then threatens to release your webcam footage unless you pay a ransom, usually in Bitcoin. What should you do? 1) Check your password If the password the scammer is quoting is still current anywhere, change it immediately anywhere you use it. If you’re not already using a password manager, now is a good time to start. 2) Don’t reply Despite what they say, it’s unlikely to be true. It’s most likely your password comes from an old data breach. Someone who really did have evidence of you doing something unsavoury would probably send you a screengrab to scare you further. 3) Scan your device Just to be on the safe side, run a full scan of your computer or Android device using up-to-date antimalware 4) Cover your webcam Make a point of covering your webcam when you’re not using it. The chances of your webcam being compromised are small, but it’s an easy extra step to take. 5) Report it If you have already responded to one of these emails and paid the ransom, report it to the police. Action Fraud says that if you haven’t paid, you should report the attempt to them via their website as a phishing attempt. 6) Keep sensitive data secure Keep sensitive data on an encrypted external hard drive and never share it online. For expert advice on safeguarding yourself from email scams visit http://bit.ly/2RII9Bi. Which?: http://www.which.co.uk Twitter: https://twitter.com/whichuk Facebook: http://bit.ly/1fAOmna