My brother just told me that he's been hacked and someone is threatening to send private information, including proof of our family members' phone numbers, if he doesn't pay them. He initially contacted them on Messenger from an email that he's since blocked, but they keep reaching out to him from different numbers and emails. We're worried about this and need to figure out a way to stop them before they send anything out tonight.
3 Answers
It sounds like this might be a common scam, probably a sextortion scheme. They often claim to have compromising photos and use that to blackmail people. If that’s the case, the best course of action is to block them and definitely NOT to pay. Paying will just lead to more harassment. Your brother really needs your support right now; it’s a tough situation, but he’ll get through it.
First things first, tell your brother to change all his passwords and enable two-factor authentication on his accounts. Make sure he removes any unknown devices linked to his accounts too. These threats are usually empty, and they rely on fear to manipulate people. Ignoring them and blocking their contact is the way to go.
Totally, the quicker he secures his accounts, the less these scammers can do.
I've seen this type of scam before. It's a cover-up for something embarrassing, like sextortion, and your brother might feel too ashamed to admit it. It's crucial to emphasize to him that paying them is the worst move; they won’t stop after the first payment. He should just cut all ties and move on. Family can be told to ignore any messages they receive, just to avoid giving these people any power.
Yes! Just telling your family not to engage is a wise move. Scammers thrive on reactions. They want the drama.
Exactly! The moment you start paying, they see you as a target for more money. He should just ignore them.