Blackmailed over doctored explicit images of yourself? Here’s what to do
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The police said they have received more than 20 reports of victims being sent such e-mails in late November.
ST PHOTO: KELVIN CHNG
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SINGAPORE - If you have received an e-mail from someone threatening to distribute doctored explicit photos of you and demanding money, do not reply.
Instead, call the police and hand over the e-mail to them.
The police on Nov 27 said they have received more than 20 reports of victims being sent such e-mails in late November.
Faces of the victims are superimposed on photos of individuals in intimate and compromising situations.
Victims are threatened and asked to transfer 50,000 USDT, a digital currency, to a cryptocurrency e-wallet account stated in the e-mail. One USDT is worth about $1.35.
The threats are sent to the victims’ corporate e-mail addresses. These addresses, along with the photographs, are believed to have been obtained from online sources that are public, said the police.
“With advancements in photo and video editing technology, including the use of artificial intelligence-powered tools, manipulated photographs, videos and screenshots may increasingly be used for extortion,” they added.
Those who receive such e-mails are advised to ignore them and report the matter to the police.
