More and more scammers are blackmailing their victims by sending them threats accompanied by a photo of their home. A scary technique that aims to make them pay a ransom.
It is possible that one day you will receive an email telling you that someone has photos or videos of a sexual nature in which you appear – in action, obviously… – and threatening to distribute them on the Internet if you do not pay them not quickly a certain sum of money, in the form of transfer or cryptocurrencies – sums which can sometimes amount to several thousand euros! Worse still, he even indicates in his message your full name, your address, your telephone number, and even a photo of your home taken from the street.
The individual exults: “You don’t know anything about me, but I know a lot about you, and right now you’re wondering how that’s possible, aren’t you?” He claims to have installed the Pegasus spyware, known to be particularly intrusive. Developed by Israeli company NSO Group, the virus is designed to infiltrate smartphones and surreptitiously monitor user activities. It can be installed remotely without the victim realizing it and without any action on their part. This malware would have allowed it to spy on your consumption and browsing habits, but also to find elements that were at least compromising. The scammer also explains that he has access to your emails, your contacts, your social networks, and even your camera and your microphone! In short, everything!
To pay the ransom, simply scan a QR Code embedded in the email. Upon receipt of payment, the hacker swears to “delete all data and evidence”. In the event of refusal, however, it promises to disseminate everything to your contacts.
Rest assured, your smartphone has not suffered any intrusion! It is nothing more and nothing less than a form of blackmail that we call sextortion, a contraction of “sex” and “extortion”. The photo of your home is actually taken from Google Street View, a Google Maps function that allows you to see the streets taken by Google cars as if you were there.
Plus, it’s no wonder hackers have so much information about you – even if it’s sometimes wrong or dated. Simply collect them from social, personal or professional networks. In addition, data leaks have been increasing lately, it’s a real disaster! So it’s entirely possible that they got them from the Dark Web.
Also, if you receive such a message, no matter how personalized it may be, ignore it and above all do not panic. Immediately forward the message to Signal Spam, Pharos, or directly to 33 700, the platform specializing in reporting scams. You can also report these fraudulent messages to the website-signalement.gouv.fr. Then block the sender’s number or email address to no longer be bothered and delete the message in question.