BOISE, Idaho (CBS2) — Idaho Attorney General Raul Labrador reports that a sextortion scammer has recently attempted to target an individual by pretending to be an officer with the Idaho Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force.
The target of this attempted scam was to garner personally identifiable information from an individual using the guise of law enforcement personnel and intimidation to coerce the victim. According to a statement from the Attorney General's office, the scammer identified himself as ICAC Lieutenant Christopher Williams and accused the target of committing the crimes of solicitation of a minor and child pornography. He instructed the target to enroll in a court-issued cyber citation second chance program with the following instructions:
"Take a blank sheet of paper sign it dated place your ID beside your social above the signature snap a clear legible picture flip over the ID and the social snap another legible picture for both backs with signature submit both pictures via email or text to lieutenant Christopher Williams to be enrolled in this program."
The scammer threatened the target with fines, prosecution, probation, social media restrictions, and other consequences should he refuse to comply with the provided instructions and participate in the program. The scammer also told the target that the Judge had placed a "gag order of suppression" and that any discussion of the charges or program would result in his immediate arrest.
Anyone who receives one of these emails is encouraged to contact the Attorney General's ICAC Unit at 208-947-8700. These sorts of scams are targeted and rarely limited to just one individual. The Attorney General's Office believes that there could be other people out there who have been targeted.
Resources for parents, educators, and law enforcement officials through ICAC can be found here.
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