YouTube Strikes Now Being Used As Scammers' Extortion Tool

Scammers are reportedly using YouTube's 'three strike' system for extortion. 'After filing two false claims against [YouTuber ObbyRaidz], scammers contacted him demanding cash to avoid a third -- and the termination of his channel,' reports TorrentFreak. From the report: The YouTuber, who concentrates on Minecraft-related videos, reports that he's received two bogus strikes on his account. While this is nothing new, it appears the strikes were deliberately malicious with longer-term plan to extort money from him. 'I have been striked twice and basically extorted,' ObbyRaidz revealed this morning. 'If I don't pay this dude he's going to strike a third one of my videos down.'

The alleged scammer contacted ObbyRaidz, who lives in Texas, via Twitter. He or she warned the YouTuber that unless he paid a sum via PayPal or bitcoin, another complaint and therefore a third strike would be added to his account. 'Hi Obby, We striked you,' the message from 'VengefulFlame' begins. 'Our request is $150 PayPal or $75 btc (Bitcoin). You may send the money via goods/services if you do not think we will cancel or hold up our end of the deal. 'Once we receive our payment, we will cancel both strikes on your channel. Again -- you are free to charge back if we don't but we assure you we will.' The YouTuber was then granted 'a very short amount of time' to make his decision whether to pay the amount or potentially lose his channel. The YouTuber goes on to say that YouTube has not provided any assistance resolving this problem. 'It's very unfortunate and YouTube has not done very much for me. I can't get in contact with them. One of the appeals got denied,' he explains.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.