CERT-In issues advisory against email extortion scams

India’s cybersecurity agency, the Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In), has recently issued a detailed advisory warning against the increase of email extortion scams.

According to the CERT-In advisory, scammers have been targetting users through email stating that they have hacked the user’s device and have access to their webcam. They further threaten users stating that they have a video recorded through their webcam and ask for ransom in exchange for not leaking the video.

“In an email extortion campaign scammers have sent numerous emails to people stating that their computers were hacked, a video was taken using their webcam, and that they know their passwords,” reads the advisory.