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Internet Crime Complaint Center

White Plains, NY
News
Warning Issued For Nationwide Automated 'Sextortion' Scam: Here's What To Know Warning Issued For Nationwide Automated 'Sextortion' Scam: Here's What To Know
Warning Issued For Nationwide Automated 'Sextortion' Scam: Here's What To Know Authorities are warning the public of a nationwide automated scam in which scammers use people’s email addresses to coerce payments by intimidating them with threats of embarrassment. Victims of the "sextortion" scheme, usually children and teens, are manipulated to photograph or video material for extortionists. "After receiving the sexually explicit content from the child, the offender threatens to release that compromising material unless the victim produces additional explicit material," said the FBI in issuing the warning to parents, educators, caregivers, and children. In a sepa…

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by Joe Lombardi
Hackensack, NJ
News
FBI: ‘Sextortion’ Of Teen Boys Is Increasing, Here's What Parents, Guardians Should Know FBI: ‘Sextortion’ Of Teen Boys Is Increasing, Here's What Parents, Guardians Should Know
FBI: ‘Sextortion’ Of Teen Boys Is Increasing, Here's What Parents, Guardians Should Know Reports of adults ‘sextorting’ teenage boys into sending them sexual videos or photos online are booming, particularly involving victims 14 to 17 years old, the FBI warns. In 2021 alone, its Internet Crime Complaint Center received more than 18,000 sextortion-related complaints of various types, the bureau announced on Wednesday, April 13. A growing number involved late-teen boys targeted by predators posing as someone else, federal authorities said. It ordinarily begins with a contact through social media or on a gaming site. The adult predator or scammer "convinces the child to s…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Englewood, NJ
News
Zoom Trolls Disrupt Asian-American NJ Church Service With Ethnic Slurs, Porn Zoom Trolls Disrupt Asian-American NJ Church Service With Ethnic Slurs, Porn
Zoom Trolls Disrupt Asian-American NJ Church Service With Ethnic Slurs, Porn Trolls hijacked the virtual service of a predominately Asian-American church in Bergen County, uttering ethnic slurs and posting pornographic images, authorities said. More than 150 congregants and others with the Englewood church were subject to the bias attack on Zoom, Detective Capt. Timothy Torell said Saturday. Although invasions of video conferences were once dismissed as trolling, that changed once the spread of COVID-19 made Zoom the app of choice for many forced to communicate remotely. The FBI considers the systemic “weaponization” of Zoom as hate speech and harassment. In o…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Englewood, NJ
News
Police: ‘Zoombombers’ Invade Asian-American Virtual Church Service Police: ‘Zoombombers’ Invade Asian-American Virtual Church Service
Police: ‘Zoombombers’ Invade Asian-American Virtual Church Service Several people hijacked a virtual service of a predominately Asian-American church in Englewood, uttering ethnic slurs and posting pornographic images, authorities said. More than 150 congregants and others with the Bergen County church were subject to the bias attack on Zoom, Police Detective Capt. Timothy Torell said Saturday. Although invasions of video conferences were once dismissed as trolling, that changed once the spread of COVID-19 made Zoom the app of choice for many forced to communicate remotely. The FBI considers the systemic “weaponization” of Zoom as hate speech and harassme…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Torrington, CT
News
Bitcoin Scammers Claim To Have Compromising Videos Of Victims Bitcoin Scammers Claim To Have Compromising Videos Of Victims
Bitcoin Scammers Claim To Have Compromising Videos Of Victims Bitcoin scammers have been threatening to expose sensitive videos of their victims if they are not paid off. Fraudsters have been sending spam emails that allege they have recorded video of “you getting yourself off,” which they threaten to expose if they are not paid off. The emails claim that the scammer is from out of the country, and cannot be targeted by local law enforcement. Related story - COVID-19: Cybercriminals Using New Sextortion Tactics Amid Pandemic Scammers allege that based on their potential victims’ visiting “bad” websites that infected computers with malware, they now …

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by Zak Failla
Torrington, CT
News
COVID-19: Cybercriminals Using New Sextortion Tactics Amid Pandemic COVID-19: Cybercriminals Using New Sextortion Tactics Amid Pandemic
Covid-19: Cybercriminals Using New Sextortion Tactics Amid Pandemic The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has provided cybercriminals the opportunity to get creative with their “sextortion” tactics as they exploit the pandemic, according to reports. In the past, criminals have targeted their victims by claiming they have embarrassing, salacious video proof, typically from a webcam, of a person watching sexual content. The scammers then seek to extort immediate payment in bitcoin or gift cards, threatening that otherwise, the alleged content will be disseminated on the Internet. However, according to new information released by the cybersecurity analysi…

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by Zak Failla
Hackensack, NJ
Police & Fire
Feds Bust 400 Scammers Who Preyed On Elderly Feds Bust 400 Scammers Who Preyed On Elderly
Feds Bust 400 Scammers Who Preyed On Elderly Federal prosecutors throughout the U.S. have teamed up to charge more than 400 people in scams that have recently cost America’s senior citizens more than a billion dollars.  The largest coordinated sweep of elder fraud ever was announced by U.S. Attorney General William P. Barr during a talk earlier this week aimed at protecting older Americans from financial harm. The event, “Keeping Seniors Safe,” was held – where else? – in Florida. The Sunshine State had the most prosecutions brought by federal authorities in the sweep: 21. Ranking second was New York State, with 18. The Southe…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Shelton, CT
News
Alert Issued For Wire Fraud Scam Targeting Direct Deposit Info Alert Issued For Wire Fraud Scam Targeting Direct Deposit Info
Alert Issued For Wire Fraud Scam Targeting Direct Deposit Info A new phishing scam is targeting the HR departments of companies in an effort to reroute direct deposits. CNBC first reported that the new scam involves fraudsters rerouting direct deposit accounts, and once checks are made, the paycheck will instead go directly into the criminal’s account. According to KVC Health Systems, a child welfare nonprofit based out of the Midwest that was hit by the scam reported that the emails look legitimate and intentionally come from the company’s CEO, CFO or payroll director to increase the authenticity of the request. Reports state that the emails are diff…

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by Zak Failla
Fairfield, CT
News
FBI Issues Valentine's Day Romance Scam Warning After Woman Bilked Out Of $2M FBI Issues Valentine's Day Romance Scam Warning After Woman Bilked Out Of $2M
FBI Issues Valentine's Day Romance Scam Warning After Woman Bilked Out Of $2M With love in the air on Valentine’s Day, the FBI is warning that if an online courtship seems too good to be true, it just might be. Citing an incident when a woman in her 50s was bilked out of $2 million, the FBI issued an alert on Thursday regarding romance scams, which is an Internet crime that is on the rise. 
The FBI said that “victims - predominantly older, widowed or divorced women targeted by criminal groups usually from Nigeria - are, for the most part, computer literate and educated. But they are also emotionally vulnerable. And con artists know exactly how to exploit that vulnera…

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by Zak Failla
Mount Pleasant, NY
News
FBI Warns Of Scam Targeting Car Buyers FBI Warns Of Scam Targeting Car Buyers
FBI Warns Of Scam Targeting Car Buyers If it seems too good to be true, it might be, according to federal investigators. The FBI has issued an alert cautioning area residents to be aware of a national scam involving fraudulent online classified advertisements, offering vehicles that are not for sale, and some that never have been for sale, that are allegedly in their possession. According to the FBI, the fake advertisements tend to include photos that match the description of the alleged vehicle and a phone number or email address to contact the supposed seller. Once contact is established, the fraudster sends the intended buyer…

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by Zak Failla
White Plains, NY
Lifestyle
Beware Of These Lottery, Sweepstakes Scams, Better Business Bureau Says Beware Of These Lottery, Sweepstakes Scams, Better Business Bureau Says
Beware Of These Lottery, Sweepstakes Scams, Better Business Bureau Says Tired of your spouse, friend, children, relative or even yourself getting duped by fraud -- which is exploding on cellphones, mailings and computers? The Better Business Bureau (BBB) produced this new study (also attached below) which offers basic tips to avoid being conned. As the saying goes, if it seems to good to be true -- it probably is.  Sweepstakes, lottery and prize scams are among the most serious and pervasive frauds operating today, according to the BBB.  While the scams’ roots go as far back in the culture as gambling, the fraud continues to evolve with the times -- and now in…

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by Jon Craig