Blackmailing tactics escalate among Russian population: a new threat emerges
In recent months, a concerning trend has emerged in the digital world, with scammers increasingly targeting individuals with a public presence, such as prominent figures, crypto users including NFT artists, and company executives. These attacks, reported by Lenta, are characterised by a shift away from mass schemes towards more complex, targeted attacks that require prior research on the victim.
The scammers employ various tactics to deceive their victims. They often pose as hired hackers, offering to breach individuals' systems and leak personal information. To increase the perceived credibility of their threat, they use the victim's personal information, such as full name, phone number, address, and passport details, as "proof" of their intentions.
These scammers aim to deceive victims into paying them to avoid having their systems breached and confidential information leaked. They may use fear and blackmail tactics, threatening to release the information publicly or to sell it on the dark web if the ransom is not paid.
To protect themselves, experts advise practicing good digital hygiene. This includes not leaving personal data in public access, deleting unused accounts, and using strong, unique passwords for different services. It is also crucial to stay vigilant and not respond to messages from unknown senders.
In case of blackmail, users are advised to report to law enforcement. The focus is on prevention and reporting, rather than negotiating or responding to scammers. It is essential to remember that the information shown to the victim by the scammers is likely obtained from the dark web, not from actually hacking the victim's system.
Analysts have reported a 30% increase in targeted attacks, indicating that scammers are shifting towards more complex, carefully planned attacks. Therefore, it is more important than ever to prioritise digital hygiene and remain vigilant in the face of these threats.
