Introduction
The FBI has issued a public service announcement warning of a new trend where cybercriminals are targeting adults' and children's online accounts to steal sexually explicit images or videos. This can be used for blackmail or resale. The FBI advises victims to take immediate steps to secure their accounts and avoid repudiation through harassment, sextortion, stalking, or other targeted attacks.
Cybercriminal Tactics
Cybercriminals may use the stolen content to blackmail the victims or try to sell it on criminal marketplaces. They may also share the victims' personal information (including names, dates of birth, emails, phone numbers, and social media usernames) with other criminals, who can use it to pressure them into providing additional private images and videos through sextortion. Sextortion is a form of online blackmail in which cybercriminals threaten victims with publicly leaking nude images and videos they stole (through hacking) or obtained (through coercion).
Student-Athletes Targeted
The FBI and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) have also warned that cybercriminals are targeting student-athletes' online accounts in similar sexual exploitation schemes. The FBI advises potential victims not to reply to unsolicited text messages or emails asking them to provide verification codes or click password reset links. It also recommends using complex passwords and enabling multi-factor authentication whenever possible.
Prevention Measures
To prevent becoming a victim, the FBI advises using complex passwords, enabling multi-factor authentication, and not storing explicit photos or videos on social media accounts or Internet-accessible sites. It also recommends not replying to unsolicited messages and not clicking on embedded links in emails.
Recent Incidents
In May, a Canadian man was sentenced to 33 years in prison for targeting more than 145 children across the United States, some as young as 6 years old, in an eight-year-long sextortion scheme. The FBI has identified several indicators associated with these schemes, including unsolicited text messages claiming an account will be disabled absent a verification code and unsolicited emails referencing a new login with an embedded link to reset a password.
Conclusion
The FBI warns that cybercriminals are targeting online accounts to steal nude photos and videos. It is crucial for individuals and institutions to take preventive measures to protect their personal information and avoid becoming a victim of sextortion or other forms of cybercrime. The FBI advises using complex passwords, enabling multi-factor authentication, and not replying to unsolicited messages or clicking on embedded links in emails. The FBI also recommends not storing explicit photos or videos on social media accounts or Internet-accessible sites.
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