OPP warns about new 'violent extortion message' sent via email
Scammers are getting craftier, and police are working to keep residents one step ahead.
Members of the Southern Georgian Bay OPP and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) are sounding the alarm on a rising number of online and phone scams targeting residents.
- Download the CTV News app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates sent to your email inbox
Provincial police say the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre has received reports of scams involving extortion letters sent via email that contain personal information, including the recipient's name, phone number and address.
"The extortion letter claims that the recipient has visited explicit websites and threatens to send a copy of a video to the recipient's contact list unless payment via cryptocurrency is made," the OPP stated in a Thursday release.
Police say in some cases, the emails include a QR code.
The OPP provided one example of an extortion letter that reads in part, "Well, you've been careless lately, scrolling through those videos and venturing into the darker contents of cyberspace."
It continues, "Been keeping tabs on your pathetic life for a while now. It is simply your misfortune that I stumbled across your bad deeds... With simply a single click, I can send this filth to every single [one] of your contacts."
The email requests an amount to be paid to remain silent, and towards the end, reads, "Let me tell ya, it's peanuts for your peace."
The letter then tells the recipient they have one day to "sort this out" in Bitcoins, and makes threats if the email is shared with anyone.
It concludes, "And don't even think about turning off your phone or resetting it to factory settings. It's pointless. I don't make mistakes."
Provincial police say those targeted by these extortion attempts never visited the websites mentioned in the emails.
"Fraudsters are attempting to scare victims into sending funds," the authorities stated.
They urge the public to report a threatening message to the police immediately.
Provincial police also warn recipients of suspicious emails to never open links or scan QR codes from unknown sources.
They say fraudsters rely on high-pressure tactics and intimidation, hoping to catch victims off guard.
Police encourage anyone who received a similar "violent extortion message" to report it to local authorities and follow up with a report to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadians across the country mark Remembrance Day
Today Canadians will remember and honour the sacrifice of men and women in uniform who gave their lives in service of the country's values and principles.
Family of Second World War veteran killed in France shares his life and legacy
Two nephews of the beloved Harry R. Hamilton share stories about his life and legacy.
Canada cancels automatic 10-year multiple-entry visas, tightens rules
Canada has announced changes to their visitor visa policies, effectively ending the automatic issuance of 10-year multiple-entry visas, according to new rules outlined by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.
Mattel says it 'deeply' regrets misprint on 'Wicked' dolls packaging that links to porn site
Toy giant Mattel says it 'deeply' regrets an error on the packaging of its 'Wicked' movie-themed dolls, which mistakenly links toy buyers to a pornographic website.
Trump announces Tom Homan, former director of immigration enforcement, will serve as 'border czar'
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump says that Tom Homan, his former acting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement director, will serve as "border czar" in his incoming administration.
Alien-like signal from 2023 has been decoded. The next step is to figure out what it means
If Earth's astronomical observatories were to pick up a signal from outer space, it would need an all-hands-on-deck effort to decipher the extraterrestrial message. A father-daughter team of citizen scientists recently deciphered the message. Its meaning, however, remains a mystery.
Bleeding and in pain, a woman endured a harrowing wait for miscarriage care due to Georgia's restrictive abortion law
Since the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2022 Dobbs decision eliminated the federal right to abortion, miscarriage management has become trickier and in some cases, deadlier.
Montreal dockworkers reject deal with lockout to begin
The union representing some 1,200 dockworkers at the Port of Montreal has overwhelmingly rejected a deal with their employers association.
His wife was swept away by Hurricane Helene’s floodwaters. Now he’s been scammed out of nearly US$40,000
Rod Ashby was desperate to find his wife Kim Ashby after their newly built home in Elk Park, North Carolina, was swept away by Hurricane Helene’s floodwaters in late September and she went missing.