EMAIL users in Merseyside are being warned in an increase in 'sextortion' scam messages.

North West Regional Organised Crime Unit (NWROCU) have seen an increase in the phishing scam in where people are being coerced into paying a BitCoin ransom because they have been threatened with sharing a video of themselves visiting adult websites.

In Merseyside, Action Fraud has seen 15 reports of sextortion since the start of October.

These scams can be made to appear more credible because they provide technical details about how they do this and the phish can even include the victim's password.

Officers say that the fraudster does not actually know if people have a webcam, have visited adults websites or how you communicate with people.

Action Fraud suspects that the phishers may have gained victim’s passwords from old data breaches.

Detective sergeant John Black said: "While we have seen an increase in reports, we know that it remains a massively under reported crime. It is only natural that a victim would feel reluctant to report it.

"However, we will treat all reports with discretion and compassion, and every report to us or Action Fraud helps us identify who is responsible for sending the messages, bring them to justice and could stop others becoming victims.

"There is no need to suffer in silence and I encourage anyone who has been a victim of this crime to report it to us either via direct message on Twitter to @MerPolCC, messaging us on Facebook at 'Merseyside Police CC' or calling 101. Alternatively contact Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040."

Key advice from the National Cyber Security Centre:

• Advice is not to engage with the phisher, delete the email and report it to Action Fraud: www.actionfraud.police.uk/report-phishing

• Do not be tempted to pay the BitCoin ransom, doing so will likely encourage more scams as the phisher will know they have a ‘willing’ customer

• Do not worry if the phish includes your password; in all likelihood this has been obtained from historic breaches of personal data. You can check if your account has been compromised and get future notifications by visiting: https://haveibeenpwned.com/

• If the phish includes a password you still use then change it immediately, advice on how to create suitable passwords and enable other factors of authentication is available from Cyber Aware: https://www.cyberaware.gov.uk/passwords

• If you have been a victim of a sextortion scam and have paid the BitCoin ransom, then report it to your local police force by calling 101

• If you need emotional support this is available from charities such as Victim Support by calling 0808 168 9111 or visiting: https://www.victimsupport.org.uk/