With technology basically ruling everything and anything today, it's becoming increasingly difficult to determine what's real and what's not.

Now, police are warning Boise area residents about a scam that is preying on our biggest fears.

Fear of embarrassment

It's probably safe to say that most people don't enjoy being embarrassed. Shoot, this one time in elementary school, we had to sit in the hallway outside of our classrooms for lunch. We were supposed to be outside for lunch to celebrate "Field Day" that day but we had a huge storm that ruined it all.

This one kid, I think his name was Thomas, let out a GIGANTIC bomb at the perfect moment of silence during lunch. Because we were all sitting on the tile floor in a brick hallway, you couldn't tell if that was the sound of the Lord above during the storms or if was poor Thomas and his (for lack of a better term) fart.

The echoes of that day are still rumored to be whispering in the halls. It had to be so humiliating and I know this because here we are, talking about it over thirty years later.

Now, Meridian police are warning of a scam that looks to take advantage of that fear we all have, especially little Thomas: embarrassment.

"Several Meridian residents have received letters or emails that are threatening in nature, suggesting they have personal information that may be embarrassing if revealed," Meridian police shared in a statement.

"They demand payment through unconventional means. If payment is not received, they say they will compromise your privacy."

They then show an example of the letter which is a total threat. It talks about creeping on your browser history, catching you on camera doing "filthy things" before asking for payment in exchange for not sending what they have to your contacts.

It's not exactly in the same boat as what we described with little Thomas but don't worry - it's a scam and fake.

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