Hello Everyone:
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) recently warned about the increasing prevalence of malicious cyber criminals engaging in sextortion attacks through deep fake content. These criminals are utilizing artificial intelligence to superimpose faces onto compromising sexual photographs obtained from the internet, to extort money from their victims.
Understanding Sextortion:
Sextortion can be described as a form of blackmail where individuals threaten to expose explicit photos, videos, or sexual information about others unless certain demands are met. These demands often involve sending money, additional explicit content, or engaging in sexual acts. Typically, victims may have initially been deceived or coerced into sharing intimate content, which the perpetrators then exploit as leverage.
Methods Employed:
For instance, an individual might receive an email claiming that their webcam has been hacked, capturing compromising footage. The sender then threatens to distribute this material to friends, family, or the public unless an untraceable cryptocurrency payment is made. Although these claims may often be false, the fear and potential embarrassment associated with the situation is exploited to manipulate the victim into compliance.
The Rise of Deep Fake Technology:
With the integration of artificial intelligence into creating deep fake content, we can expect a significant increase in extortion attempts of this nature. While the images may resemble the victim, they are, in fact, manipulated and not authentic. It is crucial for readers to understand the risks and refrain from meeting the extortion demands. Previous cases have shown that paying the attackers only reinforces their belief that you are a source of money, leading to further harassment.
FBI Recommendations for Personal Safety:
To safeguard yourself from potential threats, the FBI suggests considering the following precautions when sharing content or interacting with individuals online:
- Monitor children’s online activities and discuss the associated risks of sharing personal content.
- Use discretion when posting images, videos, or personal content, particularly if they involve children or personal information.
- Be aware that content shared online can be captured, manipulated, and distributed without consent.
- Once the content is online, it can be challenging or even impossible to remove it from circulation.
- Conduct regular online searches using your and your children’s information to identify potential exposure.
- Adjust privacy settings on social media accounts to limit public exposure of personal information.
- Employ reverse image search engines to locate unauthorized circulation of photos or videos.
- Exercise caution when interacting with unknown individuals, especially when pressured to share sensitive information.
- Refrain from providing money or valuables to unfamiliar individuals, as compliance does not guarantee non-disclosure.
- Be cautious when engaging with known individuals who exhibit unusual behaviour online, as their accounts may have been hacked.
- Strengthen the security of social media and online accounts using complex passwords or passphrases and multi-factor authentication.
- Research and understand social media platforms’ privacy, data sharing, and data retention policies before sharing personal content.
Conclusion: In an era where deep fake sextortion attacks are becoming increasingly prevalent, it is important to stay vigilant and implement preventive measures to protect yourself and your loved ones. The Incognito Privacy Care Team, available 24/7, is here to address any questions, comments, or concerns.
Remember, your safety and privacy are our utmost priority.
Best regards,
Max Roberts,
Incognito Privacy Care Team