Halton police warn residents of email scam after multiple victims come forward

Halton police are warning residents about a fraudulent email scam that is making its way through the community.

Police have received more than 30 phone calls over the past week from victims who received a threatening email.

In the email, a current or previous password used by the victim was sent as proof that the scammer has access to their computer.

The scammer then demands the victim send Bitcoin, a cryptocurrency, and threatens to release an explicit video of the victim if the demands are not met.

Halton police are advising residents that this is a phishing scam and the fraudster does not have access to your computer. They say the passwords were likely obtained through a previous data breach, likely from a legitimate business.

Police say residents should delete the email if they receive it and do not reply.

Anyone who has fallen victim to this scam is asked to contact the Halton police Fraud Intake Office at 905-465-8741.

Halton police have offered some tips to help protect your computer. They say to watch out for urgent-looking messages that pop up while you’re browsing online. Do not click on them or call the number they provide. Police say no legitimate company will call and claim your computer is infected with a virus.

“Some websites, such as music, game, movie, and adult sites, may try to install viruses or malware without your knowledge. Watch out for emails with spelling and formatting errors, and be wary of clicking on any attachments or links. They may contain viruses or spyware,” said police in a news release. “Make sure you have anti-virus software installed and keep your operating system up to date.”