The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) in Prince Edward County is warning residents to be cautious online after receiving multiple reports of an online extortion scam in recent weeks.
The scam involves emails that include personal information and falsely claim to have inappropriate videos or images of the recipient. Scammers demand $2,000 in cryptocurrency, threatening to release the alleged content if payment isn’t made.
To help protect yourself, the OPP recommends the following precautions:
- Take time to verify claims and ask questions.
- Request credentials from individuals or organizations.
- Trust your instincts—if something feels off, it probably is.
- Be cautious of requests for cash or cryptocurrency.
- Don’t act on urgent or high-pressure demands for money.
Residents are urged to avoid rushing into payments and to report any suspicious activity to the authorities.
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