The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department has issued a warning about a spate of email scams that have been circulating around the city. According to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Cyber Investigative Group, these scams are pretending that spyware, akin to the notorious Pegasus malware, has infected recipients' devices. The messages threaten to share allegedly captured embarrassing content unless a payment, frequently demanded in Bitcoin, is made.
According to a post from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department's Facebook page, "These threats are FAKE." Victims are being coerced with threats of releasing fabricated embarrassing materials, which reportedly include showing a Google Maps image of the victim's home. To add a semblance of credibility to their claims, scammers are personalizing emails using recipients' names and phone numbers.
Furthermore, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department is urging the public not to submit to the demands of these cybercriminals, advising instead to remain vigilant. The department's statement, which advocates for individuals to report any suspicious emails to the authorities can, be found on their official Facebook page. Scams of this nature are not new, but the use of spyware as a threat marks an evolution in the tactics of digital extortionists.
As part of its public service commitment, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department is also offering advice to help people protect themselves from such online extortion schemes. Key among their tips: never send money or personal information to these scammers, and to keep an eye out for fishy emails that might slip through the cracks of a spam filter.
