ESSEX — Local law enforcement officials are alerting residents to a new email scam involving extortion threats, the Essex Police Department announced Thursday.
The Chittenden County State’s Attorney’s Office notified police this week about suspicious emails demanding money from recipients through threats and extortion tactics.
According to authorities, the scam emails threaten to expose recipients’ confidential online search history to all of their contacts unless they pay a fee.
The scammers imply the search history is pornographic or sexual in nature.
The emails instruct recipients to pay using a Bitcoin QR code.
Police are reminding residents never to provide personal information or money in response to unknown or suspicious emails.
Authorities advise reporting any suspicious calls or emails to the Vermont Attorney General’s Office Consumer Assistance Program at 800-649-2424 or [email protected].
