Unmasking the Bitcoin Blackmail Scams Targeting Santa Barbara Residents

Online Scammers Target Santa Barbara Residents

The rise of untraceable cryptocurrencies, like Bitcoin, may be causing an uptick in online scams throughout California — and some of these scammers’ current victims are Santa Barbara residents.

Picture this: You receive a text message from an unknown phone number with an image of your own home attached. You respond, worried that this stranger now knows where you live. To your horror, they tell you they’ve hacked your phone, accessing your videos, photos, and search history. Then, the mystery hacker threatens to send all of your most personal content to your contacts, possibly damaging friendships or social connections.

But they offer you a solution. They demand $2,000 through Bitcoin, claiming that if you pay, they will leave you alone.

This horror story is increasingly becoming a reality for many residents targeted by online fraudsters.

Sergeant Bryan Kerr, a public information officer with the Santa Barbara Police Department, emphasizes that these scammers are merely virtual con artists making baseless claims. The street images used in the scam can be sourced from Google Maps. Notably, no evidence of hacking has been found on phones involved in these scams.

If you've been targeted, you can report the scam to the Santa Barbara Police Department.

At UC Santa Barbara, the university’s Police Department is investigating similar reports. Scammers are posing as police officers or government officials, demanding money through platforms like Venmo and Apple Pay. Safety tips include:

1. Never share personal or financial information by email, text, or over the phone.
2. Do not transfer money to or deposit checks from unknown contacts.
3. Block suspicious emails or text messages and report them as spam.

Scammers use fear tactics and public information to make threats seem personal and urgent, pushing victims to pay through hard-to-trace virtual platforms. Recognizing warning signs — unsettling photos, demands for cryptocurrency, and claims of hacked devices — can help individuals avoid falling prey to these schemes. Local authorities are actively investigating these incidents, urging everyone to report suspicious messages and avoid engaging with cyber scammers.