Sonoma County Government Warns Of Extortion Scam Re: Private Phone Messages, Photos

Press release from the Sonoma County Government:

July 22, 2020

Another recent scam has been reported locally in which the scammer sends a text indicating they have accessed your phone and that if you do not pay them, they will make embarrassing photos or texts public. The scammers ask that payment be made through a bitcoin site. Anytime someone is asking for payment by bitcoin or gift cards which are not traceable is a sign that it is most likely a scam. Do not pay anything. If you, or someone you know, get a message like this, please report it to the FTC at www.FTC.gov/Complaint

This press release was produced by the Sonoma County Government>. The views expressed here are the author’s own.