Email threat types: Extortion

Extortion and sextortion attacks are increasing in frequency and sophistication. The criminal contacts potential victims by email and claims to have compromising video or information that will be released to the public if the victim does not pay to keep it quiet. As 'proof' that the criminal has access to this material, the email includes sensitive information that only the victim should know, such as passwords.

Many victims fall for this scam because they don't realize that their sensitive data was stolen in a previous data breach and is now shared or sold on the cybercrime market. According to the FBI, the cost of extortion attacks was more than $107 million in 2019.

Extortion is one of the threats identified in our free e-book, 13 email threats to know about right now. Get your copy now and learn how to defend against this and other dangerous email threats.