The National Fraud Intelligence Bureau and City of London Police released this urgent alert: “ONLINE EXTORTION DEMAND AFFECTING UK BUSINESSES”
ALERT CONTENT
Within the past 24 hours a number of businesses throughout the UK have received extortion demands from a group calling themselves ‘RepKiller Team’.
Method of Attack
The group have sent emails demanding payment of between £300 – £500 in Bitcoins by a certain date and time.
If their demand is not met, they have threatened to launch a cyber attack against the business and its reputation by automating hundreds of negative reviews online.
The demand states that once their actions have started, they cannot be undone.
PROTECTION / PREVENTION ADVICE
If you have received such a demand, or receive one in the future, you are advised to:
• Make a report to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or via the online reporting tool on www.actionfraud.police.uk
• Do not pay the demand
• Retain the original emails (with headers)
• Maintain a timeline of the attack, recording all times, type and content of the contact.
All affected businesses, whether the attack is attempted or successful, should report in the first instance to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or via www.actionfraud.police.uk
Click here to see the full alert: Ransom+Demand+Email+Alert