Crime and Public Safety | Thieves using Google Maps pictures in latest 'sextortion' scam, DA says

The Northampton County District Attorney's Office is warning of an email scam that uses Google Maps pictures of a victim's home to extort money from them.

The scam email includes a picture of the victim's home and says that the sender has incriminating photos or videos of the victim obtained through spyware. The victim is instructed to scan an attached QR code and send money in the form of Bitcoin, or the footage would be released to all the contacts on the victim's phone.

The DA's office said the cyber scam is a form of "sextortion" that tries to blackmail victims with the incriminating images. Though the scammers will claim to know all of the victim's personal information, this footage does not exist and no one should send these scammers any form of payment, the DA's office said.

If you have received this or a similar email, contact local authorities or delete the email.

The DA's office and local police are investigating the scam.