COCONUT CREEK, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2025 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — The Coconut Creek Police Department is warning everyone in the North Broward and South Palm Beach County areas to beware of a blackmail scam affecting users of Facebook and other social media sites. While it may be obvious to some that the shakedown email that you received is fake, many people — especially older members of the community — are falling for the scams. Here’s the advisory from Coconut Creek Police:
>>Blackmail scams are the basis for this Coconut Creek Police Department Scam Alert. These scams come in several different forms, including a version related to Facebook. Recently a woman called us after a con artist convinced her that her social media accounts had been flagged due to pornographic material.
The scammer asked her to pay to have the images destroyed and unlock her accounts. This is a form of blackmail and a scam. While her social media accounts were hacked, it had nothing to do with pornography.
It was a scare tactic and it worked. It’s important to have strong, secure passwords on your social media so this doesn’t happen to you. Never let anyone frighten you into making some sort of a payment or giving out your bank account information over the phone, via text or email.<<
We remind readers that charges filed by law enforcement agencies are allegations and that all criminal defendants are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. We also remind readers that civil court filings are allegations made by the party filing suit. The validity of those allegations will be determined in court. If you are the subject of reporting that you believe is inaccurate, please email us immediately at clarification@bocanewsnow.com.
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