A blackmail scam requesting explicit photos from social media users is circulating around university campuses, the Department of Public Safety announced in a Tuesday email. 

Victims experience the scam when communicating with individuals they do not know on social media websites, DPS said in the campus-wide email. The scam’s perpetrators request explicit photos from the victims. They then threaten to share the photos on social media if the victims do not send money. 

Tuesday’s email is the first notification from DPS this semester about internet security threats. In past semesters, Syracuse University has experienced waves of phishing, a type of cyberattack that sends emails with fake links and attachments. DPS said anyone who has received a blackmailing message should call the department as soon as possible. 

The email included a link to the Federal Trade Commission offering tips on how to avoid online fraud. Scammers pretend they are someone a potential victim trusts, such as a government official, family member or charity. Social media users should never give out private information or money in response to an unexpected online request, according to the FTC. 

The FTC encourages anyone who comes in contact with a scammer to do an online search. They should consult with another person if they are ever asked or threatened to do something.