There is another tactic to steal money from unsuspecting people. If you receive an email with language similar to the one shown below, it is completely false. They don’t have any tracking information or your passwords. There are no systems that have been monitoring you. They are fear mongering to get you to send them money. Report these emails as spam and delete them. The only good thing is that the last line of this email does have GREAT advice.
“One last advice from me… Moving forward make sure you don’t get involved in such type of incidents again!
My suggestion – make sure you change all your passwords as often as possible.”
Hello! Unfortunately, I have some unpleasant news for you. Roughly several months ago I have managed to get a complete access to all devices that you use to browse internet. Afterwards, I have proceeded with monitoring all internet activities of yours. You can check out the sequence of events summarize below: Previously I have bought from hackers a special access to various email accounts (currently, it is rather a straightforward thing that can be done online). Clearly, I could effortlessly log in to your email account as well (****@*********.com). (redacted) One week after that, I proceeded with installing a Trojan virus in Operating Systems of all your devices, which are used by you to login to your email. Actually, that was rather a simple thing to do (because you have opened a few links from your inbox emails previously). Genius is in simplicity. ( ^_~) Thanks to that software I can get access to all controllers inside your devices (such as your video camera, microphone, keyboard etc.). I could easily download all your data, photos, web browsing history and other information to my servers. I can access all your social networks accounts, messengers, emails, including chat history as well as contacts list. This virus of mine unceasingly keeps refreshing its signatures (since it is controlled by a driver), and as result stays unnoticed by antivirus software. Hereby, I believe by this time it is already clear for you why I was never detected until I sent this letter... While compiling all the information related to you, I have also found out that you are a true fan and frequent visitor of adult websites. You truly enjoy browsing through porn websites, while watching arousing videos and experiencing an unimaginable satisfaction. To be honest, I could not resist but to record some of your kinky solo sessions and compiled them in several videos, which demonstrate you masturbating and cumming in the end. If you still don't trust me, all it takes me is several mouse clicks to distribute all those videos with your colleagues, friends and even relatives. In addition, I can upload them online for entire public to access. I truly believe, you absolutely don't want such things to occur, bearing in mind the kinky stuff exposed in those videos that you usually watch, (you definitely understand what I am trying to say) it will result in a complete disaster for you. We can still resolve it in the following manner: You perform a transfer of $1490 USD to me (a bitcoin equivalent based on the exchange rate during the funds transfer), so after I receive the transfer, I will straight away remove all those lecherous videos without hesitation. Then we can pretend like it has never happened before. In addition, I assure that all the harmful software will be deactivated and removed from all devices of yours. Don't worry, I am a man of my word. It is really a good deal with a considerably low the price, bearing in mind that I was monitoring your profile as well as traffic over an extended period. If you still unaware about the purchase and transfer process of bitcoins - all you can do is find the necessary information online. My bitcoin wallet is as follows: **************************** (redacted) You are left with 48 hours and the countdown starts right after you open this email (2 days to be specific). Don't forget to keep in mind and abstain from doing the following: > Do not attempt to reply my email (this email was generated in your inbox together with the return address). > Do not attempt to call police as well as other security services. Moreover, don't even think of sharing it with your friends. If I get to know about it (based on my skills, that would be very easy, since that I have all your systems under my control and constant monitoring) - your dirty video will become public without delay. > Don't attempt searching for me - it is completely useless. Cryptocurrency transactions always remain anonymous. > Don't attempt reinstalling the OS of your devices or even getting rid of them. It is meaningless too, because all your private videos are already been available on remote servers. Things you should be concerned about: > That I will not receive the funds transfer you make. Relax, I will be able to track it immediately, after you complete the funds transfer, because I unceasingly monitor all activities that you do (trojan virus of mine can control remotely all processes, same as TeamViewer). > That I will still distribute your videos after you have sent the money to me. Believe me, it is pointless for me to proceed with troubling you after that. Besides that, if that really was my intention, it would happen long time ago! It all will be settled on fair conditions and terms! One last advice from me... Moving forward make sure you don't get involved in such type of incidents again! My suggestion - make sure you change all your passwords as often as possible.
Recommendations
- If any service / website that you access offers 2 Factor Authentication (2FA), use it!! It is one of the best ways that you can protect yourself if your password is ever hacked or leaked on another website.
- Use unique passwords for every site. This can be easily managed by using a password manager like LastPass. They have plugins for all browsers, operating systems and mobile devices. So you can securely store, manage and access your passwords from one place. They are fully encrypted and can be automatically generated so that you can have very complex passwords that you don’t have to memorize. HIGHLY recommended!
- NEVER write your passwords down and store them somewhere near your computer or in a file on your computer.
- Sign up for the free password monitoring site, https://haveibeenpwned.com/. This site tracks any reports of websites / services that have had some type of exposure that leaks passwords, emails or any other personal information. You create an account and enter any email addresses that you use and they will search their database to see if yours was included in a breach. They will monitor this and notify you any time there is a match. All for free. It’s a great way to learn that your favorite site (ie. Norton, Microsoft, Bank of America, etc…) was hacked or data leaked. If you had that password on many other sites, then hackers that have access to that hacked information will try it on all the websites they can. Many times people are confused as to how some stranger got access to their bank account, investment account, social media, email accounts, etc. This is VERY often how they do it.
- So, STOP using the same password everywhere. It will only get you in trouble.