Appeal after King's Lynn resident targeted by email blackmail plot

Police are investigating after a Lynn resident was targeted by an email blackmail scam.

The case is one of six which have been reported to officers in Norfolk and Suffolk since last Tuesday, and which are currently being looked into.

But officers have urged the public to change their online passwords and ensure all internet connected devices have anti-virus software to protect themselves against the latest threat, which they say is more sophisticated than ones they have seen before.

A spokesman said: "The sender of these emails claims to be in possession of explicit videos of the victim, and threatens to distribute these among the victim’s family, friends and colleagues unless a ransom of approximately $2,500 of Bitcoin - a popular cryptocurrency - is sent."

Unlike other scams, these emails reportedly contain a good standard of English, an example of a password used by the recipient and a lot of detail.

Follow-up emails are also sent after a 24 hour deadline for payment passes..

However, officers stress that anyone who does receive such an email should not respond to it or send any money. None of the victims targeted in this case have sent any money.

The spokesman added: "It is considered likely at this stage of the investigation that the passwords have been obtained via a historic leak of data from an as-yet-unknown website."

Anyone who receives a message of that kind is urged to contact police via the non-emergency 101 number or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.