This usually happens when usernames and passwords stolen from an unconnected hacked site are exactly the same as the victim uses on their Skype account. While we're on the subject of Skype, there have been some reports recently of users having their accounts hijacked. And when you block them, Skype will check them out and may decide to block them altogether. You can block them through the Skype interface as soon as you get the request. Block ThemĪnd if you get a friend request on Skype from someone you don't know, chances are it's a scammer. NEVER at any time, do, write or say something online that you wouldn't want anyone and everyone else to see or know about.įollow that rule and you can't get caught out. To avoid this kind of scam from happening in the first place, remember there's a valuable golden rule that can prevent you being compromised online: Skype is unlikely to help victims directly track down the crook but they will generally respond to and work with the police. The correct action is to contact the police who will usually do their best to protect your privacy. More Scam Reports: Just How Green Are Those "Green" Products?Īnecdotal and research evidence suggests that the scammers rarely, if ever, carry out their threats.īut whatever the outcome, payment is not a realistic option because, as we explained, there's no way of ensuring the blackmailer won't return for more.
SKYPE ONLINE CHAT VIDEO FULL
It's full of all manner of distressing stories (which is why we're not listing the address here).
One way or another, these scams have become so common that there is now even a section of Skype's community forum devoted to the subject. They disguise themselves on camera or use clever video technology to make photos appear to be live, so they can't be identified. It may start with phony romance-talk on a dating site or a regular online chat room.Īnd then, at some point, the crook will suggest connecting on Skype or one of the other online video chat services. Sometimes, this scam doesn't even originate on Skype. This extortion usually starts with a demand for a few hundred dollars but, like any blackmail trick, the crook retains the evidence and likely will just keep coming back for more. They may do this several times but, at some point, they will reveal their true intent - a blackmailing demand for money, with the threat of posting the video online or mailing it to family members if the victim fails to pay.
SKYPE ONLINE CHAT VIDEO SOFTWARE
What the victim doesn't know is that their new "friend" is using software to record the video. Simply put, they get their victims to reveal, say or do things in front of the camera that they shouldn't. If you want, you can also use it for video chats, an aspect that the scammers have started to exploit. That's bad enough, but there's now a more sinister scam underway because Skype, of course, is more than a phone service. More Scam Reports: How Chat Rooms, Fake Customer Reps, and Phony Surveys Steal Your Info This can lead to the familiar online dating scam in which the scammer builds up the trust of their victim to the point where they ask for money to bail them out of one problem or another. They may be lonely, naive or just curious, so they agree to accept the new contact.Īfter that, they get bombarded with spam-type messages, links to malicious websites or, increasingly, attempts to kindle an online romance. Why would someone you don't know want to link up with you?īut that's not the way it works for some victims. If you stopped and thought about it, you'd realize straightaway it must be some sort of scam. If you're a Skype user, you may already have received contact requests from people you don't know.
So too is the use of Skype as a potential channel for con tricks. It's not just online dating agencies that are being used by scammers in search of lonely-heart victims.Ĭrooks have also started using the Skype video service to target and trap potential dupes into a potentially horrendous extortion scam.Īs we reported a few weeks back in our annual Top 10 list, New Threats Emerge in Our Top Scams List for 2016, dating scams are on the rise. In this week's issue, we'll tell you how these latest Skype scams work and what you must do to avoid getting snared.Ĭrooks Use Skype Video in Dangerous Romance Scam The online Skype video telephony service has transformed the way we communicate with each other.īut it has also opened the door for scammers and, even worse, blackmailers posing as would-be online daters.
Scammers trick Skype video users for blackmail and ID theft: Internet Scambusters #686
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