SLCERT issues warning over social media blackmail scam

An organised extortion racket of a large scale being carried out through social media and messaging platforms such as Facebook, Messenger, Instagram, and WhatsApp came to light through the Sri Lanka Computer Emergency Readiness Team (SLCERT).

The racket reportedly operates from India, with scammers targeting individuals after first adding their relatives and friends, including siblings, to their social media accounts to give the impression that the scammer is a mutual friend, SLCERT stated.

A message saying “Hi” goes out via Instagram from an account featuring the profile picture of an attractive young woman as the initial step of the scheme.

The scammers monitor those who respond and re-engage in conversation several days later, taking advantage of the profile picture’s appeal to prompt further responses from the target.

Provocative images of the woman shown in the profile then go out from the scammers, who attempt to entice victims into sending similar images or videos of themselves during WhatsApp video calls.

The scammers subsequently obtain nude videos or other compromising footage of victims and threaten to share the material with their family members and relatives unless the money demanded by the scammers is paid, SLCERT said.

The public should exercise extreme caution when responding to messages, friend requests, or calls from unknown social media accounts and telephone numbers, SLCERT urged accordingly.