How to avoid a Bitcoin blackmail scam

I received the same email asking for $7000 today.

I had a similar scam email. I don't even own a webcam and I went to a proxy email and was gonna respond to the scammer to scare him/her saying my friends and associates are aware that if the scammer does this move they will come to his house and break his legs and smash his computer. And I told the scammer I know who he is. Email got an error saying it could not be delivered. Is a fake email addy.

Received the same email yesterday in Canada to an @..... .ca account. They had my Facebook login email address and recent Facebook password. Luckily the email account has a different password. Changed Facebook password again just to make sure.

I received the same threats today "Ontario" Scary people.

I received the same type of email today: Hello! My nickname in darknet is bartlet56. I hacked this mailbox more than six months ago, through it I infected your operating system with a virus (trojan) created by me and have been monitoring you for a long time. Even if you changed the password after that - it does not matter, my virus intercepted all the caching data on your computer and automatically saved access for me. I have access to all your accounts, social networks, email, browsing history. Accordingly, I have the data of all your contacts, files from your computer, photos and videos. I was most struck by the intimate content sites that you occasionally visit. You have a very wild imagination, I tell you! During your pastime and entertainment there, I took screenshot through the camera of your device, synchronizing with what you are watching. Oh my god! You are so funny and excited! I think that you do not want all your contacts to get these files, right? If you are of the same opinion, then I think that $861 is quite a fair price to destroy the dirt I created. Send the above amount on my BTC wallet bitcoin): 1EZS92K4xJbymDLwG4F7PNF5idPE62e9XY As soon as the above amount is received, I guarantee that the data will be deleted, I do not need it. Otherwise, these files and history of visiting sites will get all your contacts from your device. Also, I'll send to everyone your contact access to your email and access logs, I have carefully saved it! Since reading this letter you have 48 hours! After your reading this message, I'll receive an automatic notification that you have seen the letter. I hope I taught you a good lesson. Do not be so nonchalant, please visit only to proven resources, and don't enter your passwords anywhere! Good luck!

I got exactly the same email with the same Bitcoin number. Glad to hear this isnt a real threat - sounds more like phishing to me...

I got the same message twice this week. My nickname is darknet. Etc. second email was asking for for less money.

As worrying as it is seeing my actual password, I strongly believe this is ALL they have, grabbed from some other hack someplace else in the past, or bought from some list somewhere. Imagine if they really had the power they say they have, able to "look" at your entire computer and follow every key stroke... I'm pretty sure these "oh-so-clever" hackers would simply log in to my bank account or PayPal account (and multiple other victims' accounts at the same time, in one concerted effort) and easily forward all the money there to their own account, then make off into the sunset. Far easier than asking for random arbitrary amounts via bitcoin.

I received the same message. The problem is they were able to get one of my previous passwords. I think they are using the info from an earlier big data breach. Anyone from Canada?

I got the exact same thing today and honestly, it sent me nuts. The email address they used was MY email address?!?! The password they mentioned wasn’t the password to my account, but it has relevance to my life; it’s a nickname for a friend. I’m really and truly freaked out. Contacting Microsoft tomorrow and then the police if I feel the need. I’m sure it’s all a scam, but it’s bad.

Omg.... I am glad it is not just me I had two of these emails this morning! One saying from fransisco73 asking for $891 and one from fitzgerald59 asking for $879.... said I had 48hours to respond and to pay that amount into their bitcoin wallet! Needless to say I will be reporting this to the police!

Got the same too on friday oct. 19.

To anyone’s knowledge, has the criminal followed up on the threats? I am also a victim of a letter mailed to my home address. I paid $7400 in bitcoin hoping that this would go away – and now they are demanding $1000 a month. I have done things that I am not proud of but since reconciled with my wife. I was desperate for her not to see these details and that’s why I paid. I had not come across this site until now and will report

I got the same email yesterday - sent cold shivers down my spine -even though my browsing history would bore most people senseless !! Scary and nasty

I have also received the same email

I've received a similar threat except the username and amount was different but otherwise it was very similar to other examples here

I just got this. I am a female and have nothing to hide. What concerns me is that they claimed to have the password for my email account and actually provided me the email i was using last year - it was correct! i changed it a long time ago, but freaks me out a bit that they had my old password... how on earth did they get that?

Hi I GOT the same email on 19 and 20 by two different people asking for different amounts. I live in the UK they be getting nothing I looked at software downloaded on my laptop driver booster 6 has anyone else downloaded this free driver software as it may be the source of the problem.

Men/Women are a victim of this scam. My LinkedIn Account was hacked. They emailed me about porn, webcam videos and sending to ALL my contacts. I was to give them 3000 through Bitcoin. And, that reporting it to the police would do no good, etc.

I received exactly the same - I am in the north east of England. Is this email targeting multiple countries?

It's interesting i do the reverse, i will never let someone hold me hostage and extort money. You pay, they will be back for more money. I had to hold myself back from telling him off, because i was wanting blood.

I just got this from my own email address. They are getting clever. Hello! I'm a hacker who cracked your email and device a few months ago. You entered a password on one of the sites you visited, and I intercepted it. This is your password from (MY EMAIL) on moment of hack: ***** Of course you can will change it, or already changed it. But it doesn't matter, my malware updated it every time. Do not try to contact me or find me, it is impossible, since I sent you an email from your account. Through your email, I uploaded malicious code to your Operation System. I saved all of your contacts with friends, colleagues, relatives and a complete history of visits to the Internet resources. Also I installed a Trojan on your device and long tome spying for you. You are not my only victim, I usually lock computers and ask for a ransom. But I was struck by the sites of intimate content that you often visit. I am in shock of your fantasies! I've never seen anything like this! So, when you had fun on piquant sites (you know what I mean!) I made screenshot with using my program from your camera of yours device. After that, I combined them to the content of the currently viewed site. There will be laughter when I send these photos to your contacts! BUT I'm sure you don't want it. Therefore, I expect payment from you for my silence. I think $808 is an acceptable price for it! Pay with Bitcoin. My BTC wallet: 1JTtwbvmM7ymByxPYCByVYCwasjH49J3Vj If you do not know how to do this - enter into Google "how to transfer money to a bitcoin wallet". It is not difficult. After receiving the specified amount, all your data will be immediately destroyed automatically. My virus will also remove itself from your operating system. My Trojan have auto alert, after this email is read, I will be know it! I give you 2 days (48 hours) to make a payment. If this does not happen - all your contacts will get crazy shots from your dark secret life! And so that you do not obstruct, your device will be blocked (also after 48 hours) Do not be silly! Police or friends won't help you for sure ... p.s. I can give you advice for the future. Do not enter your passwords on unsafe sites. I hope for your prudence. Farewell.

Account with etisalat in the UAE .. have contacted them but : No response, of course they don t want their customers to realise that they must have been hacked otherwise where would the e mail account come from ? quote Hello! My nickname in darknet is des53. I hacked this mailbox more than six months ago. Through it I infected your operating system with a virus (trojan) created by me and have been monitoring you for a long time. Even if you changed the password after that - it does not matter, my virus intercepted all the caching data on your computer and automatically saved access for me. I have access to all your accounts, social networks, email, browsing history. Accordingly, I have the data of all your contacts, files from your computer, photos and videos. I was most struck by the adult sites that you occasionally visit. You have a very wild imagination, I tell you! During your pastime and entertainment there, I took screenshot through the camera of your device, synchronizing with what you are watching. Oh my god! You were so funny and excited! I think that you do not want all your contacts to get these files, right? If you are of the same opinion, then I think that $900 is quite a fair price to destroy the dirt I created. Send the above amount to my Bitcoin wallet: 3APG4y9zzbMGboC4yy9aCpSm2TTiErUmbE As soon as the above amount is received, I guarantee that the data will be deleted, I do not need it. Otherwise, these files and history of visiting sites will get all your contacts from your device. Also, I'll send to everyone your contact access to your email and access logs, which I have carefully saved. Since reading this letter you have 48 hours! After your reading this message, I'll receive an automatic notification that you have seen the letter. I hope I taught you a good lesson. Visit safe websites only, and don't enter your passwords anywhere! Good luck! Unquote

Glad that I'm not the only one too! I was very anxious and I stayed up all night trying to crack down on how was this possible to even planning to call my local police, and I'm from across the world (Oceania region). It scared me mosy when I couldn't trace who had logged into my account as they used my login to send an email to my own inbox. They showed my old password too and also the darknet username was different. I deactivated everything I used on the Internet including social media. I didn't want to take any risks because if my data is jeopardize so would my partner's data.

I also received nearly the same one on 10/23/18. Here is the text of the email I received: Hello! My nickname in darknet is des53. I hacked this mailbox more than six months ago. Through it I infected your operating system with a virus (trojan) created by me and have been monitoring you for a long time. Even if you changed the password after that - it does not matter, my virus intercepted all the caching data on your computer and automatically saved access for me. I have access to all your accounts, social networks, email, browsing history. Accordingly, I have the data of all your contacts, files from your computer, photos and videos. I was most struck by the adult sites that you occasionally visit. You have a very wild imagination, I tell you! During your pastime and entertainment there, I took screenshot through the camera of your device, synchronizing with what you are watching. Oh my god! You were so funny and excited! I think that you do not want all your contacts to get these files, right? If you are of the same opinion, then I think that $900 is quite a fair price to destroy the dirt I created. Send the above amount to my Bitcoin wallet: 36rqooMQkWhQCyhFufDLBjLarLsbf8CNjH As soon as the above amount is received, I guarantee that the data will be deleted, I do not need it. Otherwise, these files and history of visiting sites will get all your contacts from your device. Also, I'll send to everyone your contact access to your email and access logs, which I have carefully saved. Since reading this letter you have 48 hours! After your reading this message, I'll receive an automatic notification that you have seen the letter. I hope I taught you a good lesson. Visit safe websites only, and don't enter your passwords anywhere! Good luck!

Got similar email,out here in South Africa Must have been spoofed cos it came from myself,however while checking on the email details,it was sent from a location 2hours ahead, thinking could be Dubai

I received a message from darknet username des53 using my email address. I checked my sent folder and showed nothing sending myself that email. As a precaution, I sent myself an email, and the email I sent was in my "sent" folder, but not the scammer's. Going to my local police to report this.

A very similar e-mail to an e-mail accont of my Japanese ISP. So the target is far and wide.

Here is mine I was sent. Same thing, but no personal passwords were exposed. Just that the email was supposedly sent from my own account... Hello! I'm a hacker who cracked your email and device a few months ago. You entered a password on one of the sites you visited, and I intercepted it. Of course you can will change it, or already changed it. But it doesn't matter, my malware updated it every time. Do not try to contact me or find me, it is impossible, since I sent you an email from your account. Through your email, I uploaded malicious code to your operation System. I saved all of your contacts with friends, colleagues, relatives and a complete history of visits to the internet resources. Also I installed a Trojan on your device and long tome spying for you. You are not my only victim, I usually lock computers and ask for a ransom. But I was struck by the sites of intimate content that you often visit. I am in shock of your fantasies! I've never seen anything like this! So, when you had fun on piquant sites (you know what I mean!) I made screenshot with using my program from your camera of yours device. After that, I combined them to the content of the currently viewed site. There will be laughter when I send these photos to your contacts! BUT I'm sure you don't want it. Therefore, I expect payment from you for my silence. I think $881 is an acceptable price for it! Pay with Bitcoin. My BTC wallet: 1DVU5Q2HQ4srFNSSaWBrVNMtL4pvBkfP5w If you do not know how to do this - enter into Google "how to transfer money to a bitcoin wallet". It is not difficult. After receiving the specified amount, all your data will be immediately destroyed automatically. My virus will also remove itself from your operating system. My Trojan have auto alert, after this email is read, I will be know it! I give you 2 days (48 hours) to make a payment. If this does not happen - all your contacts will get crazy shots from your dark secret life! And so that you do not obstruct, your device will be blocked (also after 48 hours) Do not be silly! Police or friends won't help you for sure ... p.s. I can give you advice for the future. Do not enter your passwords on unsafe sites. I hope for your prudence. Farewell.