Snoqualmie Police Alert Residents to New Sextortion Scam Involving Photos of Homes

The Snoqualmie Police Department has issued a public alert regarding a new sextortion scam targeting residents, which now incorporates photos of victims' homes to increase the intimidation factor. Reports have emerged from Snoqualmie and North Bend, with many residents expressing concern about their privacy and safety. The scammers typically send threatening emails claiming to possess embarrassing content, demanding payment to prevent its release. This latest iteration, identified as the "Pegasus" sextortion scheme, includes personal information and may feature a Google Maps image of the victim’s residence, adding a chilling element to the threat. Local authorities have made it clear that these emails are scams and urge individuals not to engage with the perpetrators.

Instead, they recommend that recipients delete such emails immediately. The FBI has also provided safety tips to combat these scams, including refraining from sharing compromising images and avoiding unknown email attachments. Residents are encouraged to report any incidents to their local FBI office to help combat this growing issue.