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Police field 16 bitcoin scam complaints in one day

Fraudsters are sending threatening messages, a screenshots of Google map street view showing the victim’s residence and other personal information, police say
CambridgeToday Staff
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Police are warning the public to be wary of an ongoing email extortion scam.

Since Sept. 14, Waterloo Regional Police Service has received 16 reports of phishing scams attempting to extort bitcoin payments from victims.

In this scam, a fraudster emails a victim and tells them there is malware on the victim’s computer that has captured their browsing history and web camera footage.

The fraudster then threatens to release the history and/or footage unless a bitcoin payment is made. Along with the threatening message, a screenshot of a Google map street view showing the victim’s residence and other personal information, such as a phone number, are included.

To help prevent being a victim of this type of scam, members of the public are encouraged to:

  • Protect your personal information and be mindful of what information is posted online. Scammers can use details shared on social media platforms and dating sites for targeting purposes.
  • Keep your online passwords more secure by using a password generator, setting up two-factor authentication, and using a password manager.
  • Avoid engaging with or replying to these types of phishing scams.

If you have been a victim of a scam and suffered a financial loss, please report the incident online or call our non-emergency number at 519-570-9777. 

If you received one of these emails but did not experience a financial loss, please contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501 or online.

For more information about scams and frauds in various languages, visit: