Peel Regional Police are warning the public about ongoing scams impacting residents across Peel Region and other jurisdictions.
Victims have reported receiving email correspondences from a perpetrator claiming to have acquired intimate images or personal information of a compromising nature such as evidence of adult content in your internet browser. The perpetrator(s) then demand the victim send funds to them via a Bitcoin wallet or other means or their images and information will be sent to the public or to their family.
The emails often includes personal information, such as name, address, phone number, and street-view images of your home. This information has likely been obtained via other phishing methods where perpetrator(s) send emails, texts, or other messages purporting to be from legitimate companies to induce an unsuspecting person to share personal information such as financial information or passwords.
Investigators from PRP’s Criminal Investigations Bureau (CIB) and Fraud Bureau are reminding the public not to share personal information or information about your computer or electronic devices:
- Do not open emails, files, or links from unknown sources.
- Be mindful when sharing information on social media.
- If you have received an extortion email, do not comply with the threat. Do not continue communication.
- If you have transferred funds, check to see if they have been collected, if not, cancel the payment.
- Keep any and all records of any correspondence including usernames and account information.
We encourage anyone who has been a victim of this scam and incurred a financial loss, to please report it to their local police agency.
The news release, including an example of an extortion email, can be found here: https://x.com/PeelPolice/status/1837252371522478226