METHUEN — Methuen police are alerting residents to a new phishing scam involving threatening emails containing personal information and demands for ransom payments.
The emails include recipients’ names, addresses, phone numbers and even photos of their homes, typically street view images pulled from online sources like Google Earth.
Scammers falsely claim to have installed spyware on victims’ devices and threaten to release embarrassing information about their browser history unless a ransom is paid in Bitcoin within 24 hours.
The messages use menacing language, stating things like “I can peep at everything on your screen” and “I’ve been keeping tabs on your pathetic life for a while now.”
Police say the scammers rely on publicly available data to create an illusion of surveillance, attempting to manipulate victims through fear and intimidation.
Authorities advise recipients to delete such emails immediately without responding or paying any ransom.
Victims can file complaints with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov.
Law enforcement officials urge residents to remain vigilant and cautious about unsolicited emails, especially those containing threats or payment demands.
