There is a new "sextortion" email making the rounds demanding money from people to not have video of them sent to all of their contacts. They are using previous data from past data breaches to try and convince you that this is serious. Here is the text I received today:
"Let's get straight to the point. I am aware XXXXX is your password. Moreover, I do know about your secret and I have proof of your secret. You do not know me personally and no one employed me to investigate you.
It's just your misfortune that I found your misdemeanor. In fact, I actually installed a malware on the adult vids (pornography) and you visited this web site to have fun (you know what I mean). While you were busy watching videos, your web browser began operating as a Rdp (Remote desktop) that has a key logger which provided me access to your display and web cam. After that, my software collected your complete contacts from your messenger, facebook, as well as email.
Next, I gave in much more hours than I should've looking into your life and made a double screen video. 1st part displays the video you were watching and other part shows the capture of your web camera (its you doing dirty things).
Honestly, I want to forget all about you and allow you to get on with your life. And I am about to present you two options that may achieve that. The two choices with the idea to ignore this letter, or simply just pay me $1900. Let’s explore those 2 options in more detail.
Option 1 is to ignore this email. Let's see what will happen if you choose this path. I will send out your video recording to your entire contacts including family members, coworkers, and many others. It does not save you from the humiliation your family will have to face when family and friends find out your unpleasant videos from me.
Option 2 is to make the payment of $1900. We will name it my “privacy fee”. Now let me tell you what happens if you choose this path. Your secret remains your secret. I will erase the video immediately. You continue on with your life as though nothing ever occurred.
At this point you may be thinking, “I will complain to the police”. Let me tell you, I have covered my steps to make sure that this email message can't be linked back to me and yes it won't stop the evidence from destroying your health. I'm not planning to break your bank. I just want to be compensated for efforts and time I put in investigating you. Let's assume you have chosen to generate this all go away and pay me the confidentiality fee. You'll make the payment through Bitcoin (if you don't know this, type "how to buy bitcoins" on search engine)
Amount to be sent: $1900 Bitcoin Address to Send to: 16Cq8aSzMvr9SigEE4Lmnp1dTURancp1YY (It is cASe sensitive, so copy and paste it carefully)
Tell no person what you should be sending the bitcoin for or they may not offer it to you. The task to get bitcoins can take a couple of days so do not delay. I've a special pixel within this message, and at this moment I know that you've read this email. You now have 48 hours in order to make the payment. If I do not receive the Bitcoins, I will, no doubt send out your video to your contacts including close relatives, colleagues, and so on. You better come up with an excuse for friends and family before they find out. Nevertheless, if I receive the payment, I will erase the video immediately. It is a non-negotiable one time offer, thus kindly do not waste my personal time & yours. The clock is ticking."
The XXXXX password they sent in the text was an old one of mine that had been compromised many years ago, but it did make me pay attention at first. The rest of the message didn't matter because I never go to these sites.
What I did:
I reported the scam to the FBI including the email address and the bitcoin wallet. I reported the email address to the appropriate .com and I'm letting you all know right now.
Here is a security blog that is discussing the sudden wave of these emails going out.
Everyone should check their login information for data breaches and change the appropriate passwords using Have I been Pwned.
Anytime you receive a message saying pay money or else, be skeptical that there is an else. I do not care if you're visiting the sites this person claims, but make sure that you do not send money off to a scam no matter how worried your are.
Submitted July 14, 2018 at 08:38PM by 1chemistdown https://ift.tt/2KYNBNh
