Binghamton University Safety Advisory
10/28/24
Binghamton University campus community,
Malicious actors employing a sextortion scam have been targeting educational communities nationwide, including the community at Binghamton University.
Originally coined sextortion by the FBI, it is a form of fraud that revolves around the exploitation of sexually explicit material acquired from unsuspecting victims. Sextortion can begin on any app, social media platform or online forum where random people can meet. Typically, it commences innocuously with a simple message, drawing the victim into a seemingly casual conversation. As this dialogue progresses, it gradually takes a sexual turn, encouraging the victim to participate in sexually explicit activities during video chats or sharing sexually explicit photos. Once the perpetrator possesses one or more compromising videos or images, they begin the extortion process, threatening to disseminate this content to the victim's family and friends if payment is not received. It is important to note that paying the extortion demands does not stop further attempts; the extortion is likely to continue regardless of payment.
On Oct. 26, 2024, the University Police at Binghamton received a report of a Sextortion scam that occurred on campus. In light of this report and the continuous threat such scams pose, the Binghamton University Police would like to advise all members of the campus community to exercise caution when interacting with unfamiliar individuals on social media. To minimize the risk of falling victim to this or any scam, consider taking the following preventive measures:
- Refrain from accepting friend requests or following individuals whom you have not personally met or established a genuine connection with.
- Do not send sexually explicit content to anyone, especially if the recipient is an unfamiliar individual.
In the unfortunate event that you are facing extortion or have fallen victim to an online scam, report the incident to the University Police at (607) 777-2393 immediately. Information can also be reported anonymously through the University Police website at: https://www.binghamton.edu/police/anonymous-tips.html. Your prompt reporting is crucial for our ability to provide swift assistance and effectively address the situation.
This message has been delivered to all active users of the Binghamton University electronic mail system. This message is posted for the Binghamton community in compliance with the "Timely Warning" provisions of the federal Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act of 1998. You cannot be removed from these distributions. There is no reason to forward this message to individuals or mailing lists within the Binghamton mail system as it is already distributed to everyone.
