PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. – The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office is urging residents to be cautious of a new email scam involving extortion attempts. Scammers are sending emails with attached PDFs containing personal information like names, addresses, and even Google Street View images of victims’ homes.
The emails falsely claim that spyware has been installed on the recipient’s phone and threaten to release private information unless a Bitcoin payment is made via a QR code.
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This is a scam. The Sheriff’s Office assures the public that there is no evidence to support the claim of compromised devices.
Residents are advised not to open or click on links or emails from unknown sources and to avoid scanning unverified QR codes.
Anyone with information about this scam or who believes they may have fallen victim is encouraged to contact the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office at (727) 582-6200.
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