Cyber Crime

FBI IC3 warns of a spike in sextortion attacks

The FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) warns of a spike in sextortion attacks since the beginning of 2021 that caused $8M losses.

The FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) is warning of a significant increase in sextortion complaints since the beginning of 2021. In a sextortion attack, threat actors threaten to distribute the victims private and sensitive material (e.g. videos or photos) if their demands are not met. 

According to the authorities, the attacks resulted in financial losses of more than $8 million until the end of July.

The FBI received over 16,000 sextortion complaints until July 31, the age of most of the victims is between 20 and 39.

“As of July 31, 2021, the FBI IC3 has received over 16,000 sextortion complaints in 2021, with losses exceeding $8 million. Nearly half of these extortion victims were in the 20-39 age group. Victims over 60 years comprised the third largest reporting age group, while victims under the age of 20 reported the fewest number of complaints.” the IC3 said.

Most victims report the initial contact with the fraudster is mutual and takes place through dating websites and apps. Then the crook requests the victims to communicate via another messaging platform and asks to the victim to exchange sexually explicit material. 

After the victim complied, the fraudster blackmails he/her and demands money to prevent the leak of the compromising material. The fraudster often gains access to the victim’s social media or contact info, threatening to send the sexual image and videos to the victim’s family and friends.

Those finding themselves on the receiving end of sextortion threats are advised to immediately stop all interaction with the criminals, contact law enforcement, and file a complaint with the FBI IC3 at www.ic3.gov as soon as possible.

The FBI recommends the victims immediately stop any interaction with the fraudster and do not be embarrassed or afraid to contact law enforcement. Victims myst file a complaint with the FBI IC3 at www.ic3.gov.

Below is the list of tips published by FBI to avoid extortion attempts:

  • NEVER send compromising images of yourself to anyone, no matter who they are or who they say they are.
  • Do not open attachments from people you do not know. Links can secretly hack your electronic devices using malware to gain access to your private data, photos, and contacts, or control your web camera and microphone without your knowledge.
  • Turn off your electronic devices and web cameras when not in use.

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Pierluigi Paganini

(SecurityAffairs – hacking, sextortion)

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Pierluigi Paganini

Pierluigi Paganini is member of the ENISA (European Union Agency for Network and Information Security) Threat Landscape Stakeholder Group and Cyber G7 Group, he is also a Security Evangelist, Security Analyst and Freelance Writer. Editor-in-Chief at "Cyber Defense Magazine", Pierluigi is a cyber security expert with over 20 years experience in the field, he is Certified Ethical Hacker at EC Council in London. The passion for writing and a strong belief that security is founded on sharing and awareness led Pierluigi to find the security blog "Security Affairs" recently named a Top National Security Resource for US. Pierluigi is a member of the "The Hacker News" team and he is a writer for some major publications in the field such as Cyber War Zone, ICTTF, Infosec Island, Infosec Institute, The Hacker News Magazine and for many other Security magazines. Author of the Books "The Deep Dark Web" and “Digital Virtual Currency and Bitcoin”.

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