Scammers threatening to ruin and humiliate Niagara residents through fraudulent emails

Police are warning Niagara-area residents not to respond to emails from individuals who say that, without prompt payment, they will release compromising or intimate photos or other information.

Recently, Niagara police said that they have received at least 10 reports about an ongoing email extortion scam targeting people in the region over the last two or so weeks.

Police say the scam involves fraudsters sending emails to residents to tell them that they (the fraudsters) have obtained compromising recordings of them through adult websites. The emails might be more unsettling because they often contain personal details, including the victim’s name, address, phone number and a Google Street View image of their home.

While this is frightening, police say this information tends to be obtained from open-source internet searches and does not indicate a legitimate threat to anyone’s safety.

In an attempt to extort money, the scammer offers to delete the alleged footage and erase any trace of it in exchange for payment. The email typically includes a QR code linked to a cryptocurrency wallet, demanding payment in Bitcoin.

Police shared an example of a recent email scam:

“This is a common tactic used by scammers—creating fear and urgency to manipulate victims into paying. Whether it’s an extortion email, a phone call from someone posing as a government official, or a fraudulent tech support claim, the goal is the same: to convince you that something is wrong and only they can fix it—for a price,” police said in a news release.

While including personal details might make the threat seem legitimate, police say victims should not respond to or engage with the sender and should never send any money.

To avoid being scammed, police say residents should avoid sharing personal details (such as names, numbers, and addresses) on social media or other public online platforms.

In some cases, a scammer might tell the victim that they have hacked their webcam or other device and may provide a password as “proof.” Police say these passwords are often obtained from previous data breaches and that residents can check legitimate sources to see if their information has ever been leaked in a breach. As always, residents are advised not to click links in suspicious emails.

If an email reveals a password you often use, change it immediately and refrain from using it again. Having strong and unique passwords is helpful and they can be created with a password manager such as Bitwarden or LastPass.

Police also recommend using strong and current antivirus software and being on the lookout for emails that use urgency or scare tactics to solicit engagement or money.

“Scam emails often use scare tactics and urgency. Common signs include bad grammar, generic greetings (like ‘Dear user’), and threats that claim immediate action unless you pay a ransom,” police said.

“Being aware of these signs can help you avoid falling victim. Slow down. Do not act immediately. Consider contacting a person you trust or the authorities.”

If you believe you are the victim of a scam, contact police and report the incident to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Agency.