MA Police Warn Of Scam That Threatens To Leak 'Embarrassing' Photos, Videos

NEWTON, MA — Massachusetts police are warning residents about a growing scam in which potential victims are contacted and told personal information, web searches, camera video footage and photos — obtained via their phones — will be released to the public unless they pay a ransom via cryptocurrency.

Police said this scam is especially effective because those attempting it will include the target's current address, name and a Google image of the road they live on to try to convince them that they have access to their data.

"They also claim they have spyware on your phone," the Needham Police Department said. "Rest assured, they do not. The scammers involved want you to pay $2,000 in Bitcoin to them in order to keep your information safe from getting leaked.

"Please do not do this. It is a scam. Just delete the correspondence."

The threat letter accompanying the Needham police advisory includes the scammer telling the targets that the information or images gained are compromising, contain "embarrassing things that you are doing in your house," and warns that their online activities are being tracked and that any attempts to share the ransom demand will result in the information being made public.

Anyone who believes they are a victim of this scam, or any other scams, is advised to call their local police department so law enforcement can determine if a report is needed.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)