Public Safety Alert, Email Extortion Scam

Public Safety Alert, Email Extortion Scam

Friday, April 10, 2020 - 2:30 PM
Primary Report Intake, Management and Entry (PRIME):  416-808-2222

The Toronto Police Service would like to make the public aware of an email phishing scam which tries to extort money out of recipients.

It is reported that:

- an unknown person has sent a mass email to members of the public

- the email includes the recipient's email password

- the email states the sender is in possession of compromising or explicit photos and/or videos of the recipient

- the email requests $1900 (or other amount) in bitcoin or the photos and video will be released to the recipient's friends

- the majority of emails are being sent from an Outlook account to a Hotmail email address


The Toronto Police would like to advise that emails of this nature are a phishing scam in a bid to extort money from the receiver.

If, after receiving this email, you believe these photos/videos may exist please contact 416-808-2222 to report the incident.

You can report the incident online with the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre

The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) is the central agency in Canada that collects information and criminal intelligence on such matters as mass marketing fraud (i.e.: telemarketing), advance fee fraud, Internet fraud(Phishing scams) and identification theft complaints.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-2222, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), online at www.222tips.com, online on our Facebook Leave a Tip page, or text TOR and your message to CRIMES (274637). Download the free Crime Stoppers Mobile App on iTunes or Google Play.

For more news, visit TPSnews.ca.

Connie Osborne, Corporate Communications, for Superintendent Hugh Ferguson, Priority Operations