“I know you watch porn! Pay me to keep quiet†Did you get this email too?
There have been a lot of online reports with regards to ransomware, which is an old tactic of taking one’s phone or PC hostage and demanding the user or owner a huge ransom amount. If the amount is transferred, the attacker would let go of your device and you are free to use it once again. However, in most cases, the attacker walks away with the money and your device is still blocked.
Now, a new method of ‘scare tactics’ is seen online where scamsters are seen taking advantage of the ransomware issue and sending them emails, randomly. Known around as blackmail email scam, the scamster sends an email to random people, as a spam, which states that you are watching porn online and your activities are being tracked. He may also state that he has attacked your PC with a spyware that has already taken into account all your family and friends’ details and will inform them about your dirty activities online. Lastly, he also states that your PC or smartphone’s front camera has been hijacked by him and he has clicked photos and recorded videos of your explicit actions. The email then demands to cough up a certain amount (usually $200 to $500, or even more) to keep quiet on the matter. He sends in a bitcoin account number where you need to deposit the amount at the earliest.
Well, scary enough, those who are unaware of this email being spread around, panic and end up paying the scamster.
One such email ended up in our inbox, which got us laughing more than panicking.
Our ‘blackmailing’ email said:
“Hey! All while you flog the dummy watching porno Internet resource your notebook was attacked. Thanks to this all demandable dirt and contact files of all your family members are in my disposal for now. Yours selfie camera was put to work thanks to that program and filmed and made snapshots. Also I have at my disposal all access to your SNSs user accounts. If you do not like me to forward all files ( when you had been pulling yours pud ) to your closely related people and collaborates, then you ought to forward USD 400 to my Bitcoin code XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
All closely related people and workmates obtain that photos and video if I don’t obtain assignment within twentyfour hours. If you would fulfill all the terms I gonna close down all these dirty laundry. You must know that the most important in our time are family and this will be a nice experience for future reference. There was no that sort of situation if you do not do that stupid things. Be meticulous about next time.
Yours truly.
P.S. You own just twentyfour hours after finding that mail.”
Well, he tried to scare us with a 24-hour timeline, but unfortunately his email landed in the wrong
hands.
Others have also reported similar emails being sent to their mailbox. Users have been posting their woes and curious queries on Reddit. Some even put down their email versions as below:
**************************************
Your computer device was attacked by the malicious app .
Whats the trouble? I placed my malicious agent on a erotica portal, you clicked on this data and promptly adjusted the malware to your computer .
The hostile program made your selfie-camera shooting and I enjoy the videotape with you dash your doodle.
In next 5 hours this hostile program copied all your contacts.
Right now, I receive your all your contact information and video with you masturbating, and now if you wish me to destroy all the data affect payment 350 $USD in BTC digital currency.
Other way I want forward that this record to all your contacts .
I forward you my Bitcoin wallet - XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX You possess 27 hours after reading. In a case if I possess transaction I am going to undo that this record once for all.
I beg pardon for my mistakes- I live in China .
P.S. this postal address, I have thieved it
**************************************
Good day,
If you had been more careful while caressing yourself, I wouldn't worry you. I don't think that playing with yourself is very bad, but when all your colleagues, relatives and friends get a video recording of it - it is definitely bad for you.
I placed malicious software on a website for adults (with porn) which was visited by you. When the target taps on a play button, your device starts recording the screen and all cameras on your device begin to work.
Moreover, my program allows a remote desktop connection with keylogger function from the device, so I could collect all contacts from your e-mail, messengers and other social networks. I'm writing on this e-mail cuz it's your working address, so you must check it.
I suppose that three hundred twenty usd is good enough for this little misstep. I made a split screen video (recorded from your screen (u have interesting tastes ) and camera ooooooh... its awful AF)
So it's your choice. If you want me to erase this compromising evidence, use my Bitcoin wallet address: XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX You have one day after opening my message; I put a special tracking pixel in it, so when you will open it I will see. If you want me to show you the proofs, reply to this message and I will send my creation to five contacts that I got from your contacts.
P.S. You can try to complain to the police, but I don't think that they can help, the investigation will last for 5 month- I'm from Ukraine - so I dgf lmao
**************************************
Hello . What's anything at all about the RAT 92965 virus? you will now, because you became a pleased owner of my own, personal construction of this virus. I personally monitored to discover a number of fascinating goods on your pc, in addition i was able to link to all your own units such as a portable phone. However these are simply nothing. I actually forced our trojan to connect into a mike, net camera and also record the pictures from it, I monitored to acquire a lot of fascinating video clips, I think a few of them will end up being intriguing to you personally
My software managed to get, as soon as u seen one adult movie page. i actually spent 3 working hours to be able to stick a pair of video clips, one of which is a graphic from your screen, and also the some other photograph from a cam. It absolutely was pretty surprising!
I want you paying 480 Usd to my account
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
I only use bitcoin. In the event you have any problems sending - use web. Soon after transaction. We both will forget about this discomforting moment and i will delete everything. U now have 5 days. I will send everything to contact info I stumbled upon inside ur equipment, in the event that u won't throw me my pay out. All your friends will receive a film and your own talk data.
My wallets get closed constantly, therefore you need to hurry up. You are not the only one who gets such letter, I infected 6000 and also found positive files on over 500 of them.
Police will probably not aid you, best thing they can do is to turn off my account. So think before doing brainless shit. If i would not receive my income any purpose- your status would be destroyed. Thus, make it fast!!!
Im highly serious about anonymity and use one-time mail for sending messages, other than i use just broken wi-fi's, besides double VPN Thus, Tend not to contact me.
Good day. Dont pay attention on my English, Im from India.
We installed mine virus onto your OS.
After that I pilfered all confidential background from your system. Moreover I had some more evidence. The most entertaining compromising that I have- its a record with your self-abusing. I adjusted virus on a porn site and then you installed it. As soon as you chose the video and tapped on a play button, my virus at once loaded on your device.
After setup, your front-camera shoot the videotape with you self-abusing, furthermore software captured precisely the porn video you chose. In next week my malicious software collected all your social media and email contacts.
If you need to erase all the evidence- send me 200 euro in BTC(cryptocurrency). Here is my Bitcoin number You have 30 hours to go after reading. If I see transaction I will erase the video forever. Differently I will send the video to all your colleagues and friends.
**************************************
What's up,
If u were more attentive while caress yourself, I wouldn't worry you. I don't think that playing with yourself is really terrible, but when all colleagues, relatives and friends get video record of it- it is awful for you.
I placed virus on a porn web-site which was visited by you. When the target press on a play button, device begins recording the screen and all cameras on ur device starts working.
Moreover, my virus makes a dedicated desktop supplied with key logger function from the system , so I could get all contacts from ur e-mail, messengers and other social networks. I've chosen this e-mail cuz It's your working address, so u will read it.
I suppose that three hundred twenty usd is pretty enough for this little misstep. I made a split screen video(records from screen (u have interesting tastes ) and camera ooooooh... its funny AF)
So its ur choice, if u want me to destroy ur disgrace use my bitcoin wallet address- 16oooMVEjvdbmMRXJip8PPBewKh2PPkxmm You have one day after opening my message, I put the special tracking pixel in it, so when you will open it I will see.If ya want me to show u the proofs, reply on this message and I will send my creation to five contacts that I've got from ur device.
P.S. U are able to complain to cops, but I don't think that they can solve ur problem, the inquisition will last for 5 month- I'm from Estonia
**************************************
If you have also received such emails, you should stop worrying. The email scam is a spam campaign and is being sent out to hundreds and thousands of addresses. These threats in the email are lies and untrue. Simply ignore the emails, and mark them to spam. Report it to your IT admin if you are receiving such emails on your official servers so that they can be blocked immediately.