Email scam

[Odd-no-more]

Received an email telling me that my email account had been hacked and I should change my password. I was told that my computer has also been hacked and all my contacts had been downloaded. I was informed that I had perverted tastes and I had been filmed on my Web Cam. If I don't send aprox. $800 in bit coin, the video will be emailed to all my contacts. I was told that my password for the account was ×××××××× on a date in the past. It may have been a genuine password, I can't remember. I was shocked at first, I mean what would all my friends think of all the motor home "porn" I had viewed and the Web Cam video. Then of course I remembered I don't have a Web Cam and Microsoft was hacked a few years ago they must have got my password then. It did look a bit clever at first and I wonder if people have paid in the past. And be warned If you have had a Hotmail account for a few years. You may get the email.

 

[jezport]

Dirty Boy!!

 

[Janine]

Phew - I thought it was just me that had been naughty!

I've had a few of these emails recently quoting an old password. Just hit delete

 

[Arzedby]

The above scam is one of many similar doing the rounds at the moment. The account name / password combination used can arise from any of many security breaches on various sites over the past few years. If you enter your email address into the haveibeenpwned.com website it will tell you which, if any, of the breaches your account name and password has been harvested from. All it really means is at that particular time and on that particular website, your account name and password were compromised. If you have since changed your password on that site, and are not using the same password on any other site, then there is not an ongoing problem. As regards the Blackmail, that is complete Bollox. What they want is for you to panic and respond, in anyway, which will alert the perpetrators to the possibility that you may feel exposed or my be vulnerable. You would then most likely go on a suckers list and be bombarded with further scam/blackmail attempts. Basically, it should be completely ignored. Even if you have been viewing anything salacious, any response would only highlight that to the scammers as it is highly unlikely that they do know what you have been up to. Ignore and be careful.

 

[Chris]

I get them all the time.

I have a clear ( ish) conscience.

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[bonniechris]

I have had many like that but it is on my ordinary email account not a gmail. the amount asked for varies but always payment asked for in bitcoin and it says if I do not pay my computer will be jammed and unusable aswell as all my email contacts getting all my details.

 

[scotzsue]

got one today haven't opened it though. will delete