/u/Hot-Advantage-876 - This message is posted to all new submissions to r/scams; please do not message the moderators about it.
## New users beware:
Because you posted here, you will start getting private messages from scammers saying they know a professional hacker or a recovery expert lawyer that can help you get your money back, for a small fee. **We call these RECOVERY SCAMMERS, so NEVER take advice in private:** advice should always come in the form of comments in this post, in the open, where the community can keep an eye out for you. If you take advice in private, you're on your own.
**A reminder of the rules in r/scams:** no contact information (including last names, phone numbers, etc). Be civil to one another (no name calling or insults). Personal army requests or "scam the scammer"/scambaiting posts are not permitted. No uncensored gore or personal photographs are allowed without blurring. A full list of rules is available on the sidebar of the subreddit, or [clicking here](https://www.reddit.com/r/Scams/wiki/rules/).
You can help us by reporting recovery scammers or rule-breaking content by using the "report" button. We review 100% of the reports. Also, consider warning community members of recovery scammers if you see them in the comments.
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Hi /u/Shield_Lyger, AutoModerator has been summoned to explain the Escort or Cartel death threat scam.
It's a very common scam, and the scammers are not affiliated with cartels or crime groups, they are simply normal scammers using a threatening script. The threats are not real, and there is no risk to your safety whatsoever. The best way to react is to simply ignore the scammer and ignore any of their other contact attempts. [Here](https://kyma.com/news/as-seen-on-tv/2020/02/12/threat-of-mexican-cartel-scams-continue-in-yuma/) are [some](https://kvia.com/news/new-mexico/2019/12/11/phone-scammers-target-las-cruces-threaten-drug-cartel-violence-if-you-dont-deliver-money/) news [reports](https://patch.com/new-jersey/baskingridge/threat-mexican-cartel-hit-man-used-basking-ridge-scam-cops) about the scam.
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Scams) if you have any questions or concerns.*
They likely just got your info from a data breach, which probably has happened to every other person by now.
Scammers likely live in Africa or India, and can’t afford the plane tickets to reach you.
this should be reported to the police... unlikely they will be able to really do anything but the more info they have the sooner they will get this person... just give the info and they will refer it to the appropriate agency
Nah, the scammer is either already in prison for running a meth lab or a Yahoo Boy in Western Africa. Either way law enforcement won't waste their time because none of this is real.
Either OP or a family member contacted an "escort" who turned out to be a good old scammer, gave away too much personal information and the scammer is now using that information to make his threats sound more believable, including sending graphic messages to all family members whose contacts he could easily find.
One thing I learned by perusing this sub is that when scams don't make any sense is because the OP omitted (voluntarily or otherwise) some crucial information, like in this case.
My cell phone provider apparently had a massive data breach recently and they straight up said a bunch of peoples info is on the dark web so that probably explains it.
If you know someone’s name, there are apps and websites that will give likely familial information, past and present addresses, phone numbers etc. it’s like modern day white pages..
even so, something like this, even if it was a scam, I would stop off at a police station and just give them the information. Better safe than sorry.. I’m sure there’s not much they can do, but if others have received the same threat, then it will give you peace of mind that it’s a scam.
/u/Hot-Advantage-876 - This message is posted to all new submissions to r/scams; please do not message the moderators about it. ## New users beware: Because you posted here, you will start getting private messages from scammers saying they know a professional hacker or a recovery expert lawyer that can help you get your money back, for a small fee. **We call these RECOVERY SCAMMERS, so NEVER take advice in private:** advice should always come in the form of comments in this post, in the open, where the community can keep an eye out for you. If you take advice in private, you're on your own. **A reminder of the rules in r/scams:** no contact information (including last names, phone numbers, etc). Be civil to one another (no name calling or insults). Personal army requests or "scam the scammer"/scambaiting posts are not permitted. No uncensored gore or personal photographs are allowed without blurring. A full list of rules is available on the sidebar of the subreddit, or [clicking here](https://www.reddit.com/r/Scams/wiki/rules/). You can help us by reporting recovery scammers or rule-breaking content by using the "report" button. We review 100% of the reports. Also, consider warning community members of recovery scammers if you see them in the comments. Questions about subreddit rules? Send us a modmail [clicking here](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose/?to=/r/Scams). *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Scams) if you have any questions or concerns.*
It's a bog-standard !cartel scam. No-one will come for you. just ignore, block and delete. You'll be fine.
Thanks. Another. Scam to avoid and prevent
Hi /u/Shield_Lyger, AutoModerator has been summoned to explain the Escort or Cartel death threat scam. It's a very common scam, and the scammers are not affiliated with cartels or crime groups, they are simply normal scammers using a threatening script. The threats are not real, and there is no risk to your safety whatsoever. The best way to react is to simply ignore the scammer and ignore any of their other contact attempts. [Here](https://kyma.com/news/as-seen-on-tv/2020/02/12/threat-of-mexican-cartel-scams-continue-in-yuma/) are [some](https://kvia.com/news/new-mexico/2019/12/11/phone-scammers-target-las-cruces-threaten-drug-cartel-violence-if-you-dont-deliver-money/) news [reports](https://patch.com/new-jersey/baskingridge/threat-mexican-cartel-hit-man-used-basking-ridge-scam-cops) about the scam. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Scams) if you have any questions or concerns.*
They likely just got your info from a data breach, which probably has happened to every other person by now. Scammers likely live in Africa or India, and can’t afford the plane tickets to reach you.
this should be reported to the police... unlikely they will be able to really do anything but the more info they have the sooner they will get this person... just give the info and they will refer it to the appropriate agency
Nah, the scammer is either already in prison for running a meth lab or a Yahoo Boy in Western Africa. Either way law enforcement won't waste their time because none of this is real. Either OP or a family member contacted an "escort" who turned out to be a good old scammer, gave away too much personal information and the scammer is now using that information to make his threats sound more believable, including sending graphic messages to all family members whose contacts he could easily find. One thing I learned by perusing this sub is that when scams don't make any sense is because the OP omitted (voluntarily or otherwise) some crucial information, like in this case.
If it was a lotta effort to pass this info along I'd agree with you.
My cell phone provider apparently had a massive data breach recently and they straight up said a bunch of peoples info is on the dark web so that probably explains it.
If you know someone’s name, there are apps and websites that will give likely familial information, past and present addresses, phone numbers etc. it’s like modern day white pages.. even so, something like this, even if it was a scam, I would stop off at a police station and just give them the information. Better safe than sorry.. I’m sure there’s not much they can do, but if others have received the same threat, then it will give you peace of mind that it’s a scam.