Threats and scams of extortion; Before giving money to someone who threatens you, speak out and file a report.
Fraudsters pose as representatives of a company and demand payment. In the event that you refuse to pay them right away, they might threaten to have you arrested, deported, or even physically harmed.
They can even use threats of sharing your sent movies or nude photos as a form of blackmail if you don’t send them money.
Refrain from giving in to threats. Pause and verify if that is accurate.
Warning signs it might be a Threats and scams of extortion
Suddenly, you get a call, message, or email from someone claiming to be from a reputable company, government agency, or debt collecting agency.
They will accuse you of being in debt and issue threats of jail or lawsuit.
The caller will inform you that there is a fee or fine that must be paid in order to resolve the issue.
Your personal information, like your date of birth, passport data, and bank account information, can be requested by the caller.
The caller can threaten to have you arrested by the authorities if you don’t pay the charge or fine right away.
To “keep it safe,” you are asked to transfer money to an account.
Steps you can take to protect yourself
- Don’t be pressured by a threatening caller asking for money. Hang up and don’t respond.
- Don’t pay anyone by unusual methods such as by gift or store cards, iTunes vouchers, wire transfers or Bitcoins.
- Don’t use any contact details provided by the caller. Verify their identity by calling the relevant organisation directly. Find them through an independent source such as a phone book, past bill or online search.
- Do not respond to texts or emails. If you do, the scammers will escalate their intimidation and attempts to get your money.
More safeguards
- Never send money or give credit card details, online account details or identity information like your driver licence or passport to anyone you don’t know or trust. Never share them by email or over the phone.
- If you are concerned for your safety, contact the police.
- If the scam is sent by email, don’t open any attachments, click on links, or download files. They can infect your computer with malware.