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'Sextortian' phishing scams on the rise

Officials warn of phishing scam popping up in email inboxes

COPPERAS COVE, Texas — Phishing scams are on the rise in Copperas Cove where multiple residents have reported receiving threatening sextortion emails that claim the sender is in possession of compromising pictures and the victim's sexual activity.

The sender then tells the recipient they will expose them to family, friends and coworkers unless they pay a specific amount of money through bitcoin. 

Some scammers have obtained previously used usernames and/or passwords to manipulate their intended victims that their phone or computers have been hacked into.

Officials said none of this is true and that the whole thing is an elaborate scam.

There are some ways to help protect yourself:

• Don’t open emails from people you don’t know.
• Never respond to a phishing email.
• Don’t open links or attachments.
• Never send money.
• Pay attention to subject lines and grammar as indicators of scam emails.

 If you receive an email like this, report it and then promptly delete it.

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