Bitcoin Blackmail by Snail Mail Preys on Those with Guilty Conscience
Summary: A reader's friend received a customized postal extortion letter that addressed him by first name and hometown, claimed evidence of extramarital affairs, and demanded $3,600 in bitcoin within 12 days or the material would go to his wife, her friends and family. The letter included a primer on obtaining bitcoin, its specified address appeared to have received no payments, and a similar letter reported in Wellesley, Mass. in December 2017 asked for $8,500.
Why it matters: Sending extortion by mail is mail fraud carrying fines up to $1 million and up to 30 years in jail, yet the extortionist notes in the letter that the odds of being caught are low - and the scheme only needs one recipient with a real affair to hide.
Read the original at Krebs on Security ↗
- Topics
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