scam or threat?

[goeffers]

I just received an email from a person I don't know saying that he knows I have visited certain websites and that he has been able to crack my facebook and other contacts. He says he has been able to access my webcam and has videos of me visiting these sites. I am to send him 1000 in bitcoin in 24 hours or he will release all this to all my contacts. I am quite closeted and such a thing would be awful.

The english of the message is very poor. He says police will not be able to trace it to him. Has anyone experience with this kind of thing and do you have any advice?

[+ tassojunior]

99.9999% sure fake.

[marylander1940]

I just received an email from a person I don't know saying that he knows I have visited certain websites and that he has been able to crack my facebook and other contacts. He says he has been able to access my webcam and has videos of me visiting these sites. I am to send him 1000 in bitcoin in 24 hours or he will release all this to all my contacts. I am quite closeted and such a thing would be awful.

The english of the message is very poor. He says police will not be able to trace it to him. Has anyone experience with this kind of thing and do you have any advice?

 

 

 

[+ Keith30309]

Block him, ignore the scam email and change all your passwords (different passwords for different sites, apps & devices.)

If you’re not already using a VPN and strong PC security software begin doing so.... and put tape over any built-in laptop camera.

Don’t sweat it but these are good steps for everyone.

[+ bashful]

put tape over any built-in laptop camera.

Don’t sweat it but these are good steps for everyone.

 

I once remember an older couple didn't know their webcam was on, and it was captured.

 

 

Ever since then, I've kept a piece of tape over my laptop, and iPad camera.

[JayCeeKy]

How can you videotape someone visiting porn sites on a computer? Ridiculous.

[+ GregM]

A 1000 bitcoin is over seven million dollars. Scam.

 

Hugs,

Greg

[+ deej]

I just received an email from a person I don't know saying that he knows I have visited certain websites and that he has been able to crack my facebook and other contacts. He says he has been able to access my webcam and has videos of me visiting these sites. I am to send him 1000 in bitcoin in 24 hours or he will release all this to all my contacts. I am quite closeted and such a thing would be awful.

The english of the message is very poor. He says police will not be able to trace it to him. Has anyone experience with this kind of thing and do you have any advice?

I’ve received similar emails.

 

I do not have a web cam.

 

NEXT.

[+ Keith30309]

A 1000 bitcoin is over seven million dollars.

That was as of 10:00 am. I just checked and it’s about $47.15 now.

[+ FreshFluff]

We've had threads like this in the past. They always fade out eventually if the blackmailer is ignored.

 

And yeah, it sounds fake, especially with the high ball number. If you can change your FB password, he hasn't cracked anything.

[+ Tarte Gogo]

I just received an email from a person I don't know saying that he knows I have visited certain websites and that he has been able to crack my facebook and other contacts. He says he has been able to access my webcam and has videos of me visiting these sites. I am to send him 1000 in bitcoin in 24 hours or he will release all this to all my contacts. I am quite closeted and such a thing would be awful.

The english of the message is very poor. He says police will not be able to trace it to him. Has anyone experience with this kind of thing and do you have any advice?

Obviously fake, by the simple fact that he gives you no proof whatsoever of what he has.

It is very hard to crack open facebook's security, unless your password was "password" , very hard to to take control of your computer and camera, to record a video remotely. Not impossible, but those with that sort of expertise will spend their time doing things that provide better opportunities.

However it is extremely easy to claim that he has done these things. I could claim it right now! It would take me no expertise or effort. That email was probably sent to 300,000 people in the hope that 5 of them will send him bitcoins.

Unless he has shown you any proof of what he said, just put it in the junk mail and sleep easy.

(And if he sends you pictures or posts that you made publicly on Facebook, that is not proof that he cracked anything, anyone can get those!)

[goeffers]

Obviously fake, by the simple fact that he gives you no proof whatsoever of what he has.

It is very hard to crack open facebook's security, unless your password was "password" , very hard to to take control of your computer and camera, to record a video remotely. Not impossible, but those with that sort of expertise will spend their time doing things that provide better opportunities.

However it is extremely easy to claim that he has done these things. I could claim it right now! It would take me no expertise or effort. That email was probably sent to 300,000 people in the hope that 5 of them will send him bitcoins.

Unless he has shown you any proof of what he said, just put it in the junk mail and sleep easy.

(And if he sends you pictures or posts that you made publicly on Facebook, that is not proof that he cracked anything, anyone can get those!)

[goeffers]

Thanks for the responses, very reassuring. Looking around the net, I found many such blackmail scams.

Nasty stuff. The email did have one of my passwords in it, but I gather that is pretty common as well.

I should retire that one from any accounts and take more care about security generally and look into

VPN. Thanks again.

[+ Tarte Gogo]

The email did have one of my passwords in it,

Hmm, that is worrying. what was the password for? Did he indicate that he knew what site that password was for?

Did he give a long lists of password, and only one of them matched one of your really-easy-2-guess-password?

[+ oldNbusted]

Block him, ignore the scam email and change all your passwords (different passwords for different sites, apps & devices.)

If you’re not already using a VPN and strong PC security software begin doing so.... and put tape over any built-in laptop camera.

Don’t sweat it but these are good steps for everyone.

 

Also set up any two-factor or two-step authentication options your service providers make available. This has totally changed the security game and resulted in the targeting of accounts that lack this additional security, since those account users are deemed to be likely technologically naive and more susceptible to scams.

[jrbjcr]

Hmm, that is worrying. what was the password for? Did he indicate that he knew what site that password was for?

Did he give a long lists of password, and only one of them matched one of your really-easy-2-guess-password?

 

Chances are that a website service (not necessarily Facebook) that you were using was hacked. Lots of other websites use your Facebook account as a login option, btw. The hacker would then have your email and password. It is unlikely that your individual computer was hacked. Regardless, make sure to change your password.

[+ E.T.Bass]

I don't open most e-mails.

 

Although one time I did engage with this Nigerian that was in need of funds. I played along as the unwitting sucker that didn't understand exactly what they wanted and kept the convo going in circles, e-mail after e-mail. I suppose I shouldn't have done that.

[+ Tarte Gogo]

I don't open most e-mails.

 

Although one time I did engage with this Nigerian that was in need of funds. I played along as the unwitting sucker that didn't understand exactly what they wanted and kept the convo going in circles, e-mail after e-mail. I suppose I shouldn't have done that.

Is your name James Veitch?

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_QdPW8JrYzQ

[lucki7]

I just received an email from a person I don't know saying that he knows I have visited certain websites and that he has been able to crack my facebook and other contacts. He says he has been able to access my webcam and has videos of me visiting these sites. I am to send him 1000 in bitcoin in 24 hours or he will release all this to all my contacts. I am quite closeted and such a thing would be awful.

The english of the message is very poor. He says police will not be able to trace it to him. Has anyone experience with this kind of thing and do you have any advice?

Total scam, without a doubt. I got a similar email. They basically are able to get hold of a password that you used on at least one site that was compromised at one time in the past, and use the fact that they have that password to make you think they know more and have more than they do. I’d trash the email. Don’t respond. However, I would go ahead and change my passwords, and don’t repeat them site to site.

[spider]

I found two in my work junk mail today. One was from a week ago and they were supposed to send messages to all my contacts the next day. Oh well. They put together my work mail address with a “burner” password that I’ve never used for anything that would have my contacts. The said they had me watching porn. On that matter I plead the 5th. LOL. If you google, there are reports all over the internet. Some trace it back to a LinkedIn breaking a few years ago.