A blackmail scam is targeting a variety of individuals in Florida.
The FBI office in Jacksonville sent out information Monday warning people of the scam, which targets people in the form of an anonymous letter claiming evidence of adultery against the victim.
In the letter, the scammer wants money in exchange for not releasing this information to the victim's spouse, family and friends.
The scammer usually asks for payment with Bitcoin. Bitcoin is a virtual currency that is difficult to track.
"The blackmail scam is not new. It comes in many forms and will continue to evolve as scammers change their tactics to remain successful," the FBI said in a release.
The FBI is asking for any victims of this scam to file a report with local law enforcement and contact their financial institutions. Victims should also submit the information to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center.
Clark Howard has three ways you can safeguard yourself from these types of scams:
Report them: If you know you haven't done anything that would cause you to be blackmailed or extorted, ignore the letter, definitely don't send any money and most importantly report the scammers to the Federal Trade Commission. File a claim at ftc.gov/complaint.
Tell a friend: If criminals have gotten hold of your info, they may also have accessed that of those close to you. Warn your friends, family and co-workers about any scam so they can protect themselves.
Look them up online: If you've gotten any suspicious mail and you're unsure about it, do an online search for the person or company's name and return address. If they seem legit, contact them via customer service. If they're untraceable, it's best to report them and throw their correspondence away.
Cox Media Group
