Online blackmail scams are utilizing your public information. Here’s how to spot the rising threat [Video]

More people than ever are reporting online scams. The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center received more than 880,000 complaints in 2023, which is a 10% increase over 2022.

One popular scam uses emails that threaten blackmail.

The emails read similar to, “You’ve been treading on thin ice with your browsing habits” or “I’ve got footage of you doing embarrassing things in your house.”

These emails can seem real, and sometimes include a person’s name, address and even a street view image of where they live.

“It’s just personalized enough to make you stop … no matter how savvy you are, you’re going to say, ‘Wait a minute, is this real? Is this me?'” said Dan Ackerman, editor-in-chief of Micro Center News.

Detecting blackmail emails

A person usually isn’t individually targeted, according to Ackerman. Scammers send out hundreds of thousands of emails from a database, combining pieces of information.

Here’s what to look for in the email: