Extortion Email Alert

Posted in Announcements

Extortion Email Summary:

Extortionists are actively targeting the GU community and the public at large using fear and shame as their primary tactics to lure victims to pay them via BitCoin or leak embarrassing videos of them to all of their contacts. 

The email threat uses GU NetID and a possible password in the subject title of the message.  The passwords used in these schemes are taken from other online accounts.  Our phishing examples page provides the full text of the email. 

If you received this email and took any action, you should immediately file a police report with your local jurisdiction and change the passwords on your personal and Georgetown accounts. 

Security measures that you should follow:

• Change your passwords regularly.
• Do not use the same password for multiple accounts.
• Sign up for multifactor authentication when that is an option.  GU uses Duo two factor authentication.
• Make sure your anti-virus software is up to date and run regular scans. Need antivirus? Visit Georgetown on the Hub.
• Never respond to threatening emails.
• Never send money to extortionists.
• Contact law enforcement if you believe you have been a victim of an extortion incident.