BROWN COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a new scam circulating in Kansas.
According to Brown County Sheriff John Merchant, residents are being threatened through an e-mail on their smartphone by someone who is telling the resident that they have installed spyware called Pegasus on their device and are watching them remotely.
The phone owner is being accused of illegal activity in their private life and are advised to send $2000 through Bitcoin and the scammer will erase any and all information.
If the phone owner does not pay, the scammer states they will send all of the images and videos they have taken of the them to their contact list which would cause great humiliation.
The scammer also adds that he has access to all other info on the phone. “This is an attempt to extort money from you, according to Sheriff Merchant. “If you receive such a message, do not reply. “
“Scammers are getting more and more devious on the ways to obtain financial support from unsuspecting victims. This scam is particularly concerning as it appears very cleverly written in order to extort money from you.”
Remember, never give out person information over your phone or computer. If you feel you have been made a victim of this or any other scam, contact your local law enforcement at once
Sheriff Merchant is forwarding this information to the Kansas Attorney’s General’s office for their review.
