ROCHESTER — In a joint effort with the Rochester Council on Aging, the Rochester Police Department issued a scam alert involving a new variation of a phishing attempt that has been infiltrating email inboxes.
Residents are advised that if they receive an email claiming their personal information has been hacked, it is likely a scam.
The message may include details such as email addresses, names, and home addresses, with some emails displaying photos of recipients’ homes, presumably to intimidate.
Authorities clarify these images are typically sourced from Google Street View and do not indicate the sender has physically surveilled the home.
The purpose of such emails is to “phish” for money by exploiting fear.
Recipients are cautioned against engaging with the message, responding to the sender, or paying any requested ransom.
The Rochester Police Department reminds the public that personal online browsing habits are private and claims made in such scams are often false.
Officials acknowledge that once personal information is involved in a data breach, there is little that can be done to retract it.
However, they recommend taking preventative measures to secure online data, including updating passwords, using antivirus or antimalware programs, enabling two-factor authentication, and, for additional comfort, covering computer cameras.
Victims within Rochester who have already fallen prey to this scam and have sent payment, typically requested in Bitcoin, are urged to reach out to the police dispatch center to consult with an officer and file a report.
