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I've received a disgusting extortion email

(68 Posts)
sazz1 Sun 09-Mar-25 21:39:22

I have 2 email accounts - one I use regularly and another I use very occasionally. I was checking the second and there were no messages but a few in spam. One dated 14th February had the subject line 'I've hacked you.' I read the email and it looks like it was sent to me from me on the letter but I didn't click reply to find out. Said it will know when I open it and I have 2 days to pay via bitcoin into an account or they will post disgusting videos and pictures of me to all my contacts. Called me perverted and several other names. I know it's a scam as I don't have any such pictures and never have. I clicked report as phishing and it disappeared. But I found it quite unnerving What do others think?

FriedGreenTomatoes2 Sun 09-Mar-25 21:44:18

I’ve had 3 of these in the past I just deleted them.

Babs03 Sun 09-Mar-25 21:45:47

That sounds horrible, there are some pretty sick individuals out there. Am sure you have dealt with it successfully though and should hear nothing more.
Definitely unnerving, sending hugs 🤗

Sadgrandma Sun 09-Mar-25 21:48:51

This type of email is very distressing and you did absolute the right thing by reporting it but, sadly, a lot of other people do panic and end up losing money. I hope people will read this post and be reminded never to click on any links and to report them straight away.

sazz1 Sun 09-Mar-25 21:48:54

Thanks for replying They wanted £17k in bitcoin transferred so it's blackmail. If I get another it will go to police, but doubt they can trace it.

Ziplok Sun 09-Mar-25 21:50:49

That’s horrible Sazz1, but certainly a scam. You did the best thing reporting it. I can understand why you felt it was unnerving, but try to take comfort from the fact that it’s a pack of lies and sent from individuals with no morals whatsoever.
💐

lemsip Sun 09-Mar-25 21:57:25

well you state that it was in your spam anyway so no problem then! it went where it should have!

Greenfinch Sun 09-Mar-25 21:58:09

I received this type of email a year or so ago. My son who works in cyber security said they are very common and just to delete and forget. Although disturbing, surely only those with a guilty conscience might be concerned. They are pathetic.

Babs03 Sun 09-Mar-25 22:01:42

I only look in my junk mail when I think something important might have gone there by mistake, when I do look is full of bitcoin stuff, not sure what it is about because I never open it, men and women offering their services, and delivery company’s saying I missed a delivery of something.

BlueBelle Sun 09-Mar-25 22:42:10

The provider is doing the job
No need at all to look in spam there’s dozens of them every day like Babs says I would only go there if I was missing an email

LOUISA1523 Sun 09-Mar-25 23:58:14

I've had loads of these ...but all in spam...I usually go in ever 6 months or so and delete

Ladyripple Mon 10-Mar-25 00:10:21

I get loads like this,never open them,just delete.

Sago Mon 10-Mar-25 09:47:51

Lots of these too.
Just delete.

henetha Mon 10-Mar-25 11:17:28

I've had these, and as soon as I read that he would "send your dirty sex videos to everyone on your list", I knew it was a scam.
I don't have any such sex videos.
I ignore such things these days.

sazz1 Mon 10-Mar-25 13:42:43

Thanks everyone. It has helped to know lots of people have had these. I went in my spam folder and reported as phishing all the fake ones like you have a parcel needing payment, claim your prize, join our online casino etc so hopefully won't get many more.

Oreo Mon 10-Mar-25 13:48:39

Greenfinch

I received this type of email a year or so ago. My son who works in cyber security said they are very common and just to delete and forget. Although disturbing, surely only those with a guilty conscience might be concerned. They are pathetic.

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

Indigo8 Mon 10-Mar-25 13:49:50

I have had several of these over the years, some quite recently.

There is some useful, reassuring info about how it would be impossible for the sender to have viewed you in the manner described even if you had been up to the things they say they saw you do.

I had a spate of them and I tried to report them and got nowhere.

I know are at best very distasteful and at worse upsetting.

grannd Mon 10-Mar-25 13:54:15

I had a similar email. They said they'd switched on my webcame while I was watching porn and filmed me 'enjoying myself'. As proof, they quoted a password to my old LinkedIn account, which must have been hacked. Having never watched porn, I had to laugh, especially as they threatened to forward the film to my parents and schoolfriends. The sad thing is that they must strike lucky from time to time and torment some poor soul into paying up. Vermin!

Labradora Mon 10-Mar-25 14:03:41

I've had these.
Delete them and don't let them upset you.
Don't give these scumbags a second of your time.

NotAGran55 Mon 10-Mar-25 14:07:45

Very sadly a young man took his own life a couple of years ago after receiving one of these emails.

glammagran Mon 10-Mar-25 14:11:35

Got something similar in my junk email this morning. Apparently Google has received 62 complaints about me sending malware and misinformation out. If I don’t respond immediately my entire Google account will be deleted.

pascal30 Mon 10-Mar-25 14:12:08

I've had these.. make sure your anti virus apps are all up to date

glammagran Mon 10-Mar-25 14:14:30

glammagran

Got something similar in my junk email this morning. Apparently Google has received 62 complaints about me sending malware and misinformation out. If I don’t respond immediately my entire Google account will be deleted.

The giveaway that it was a hoax was the very long IP address from the sender.

icanhandthemback Tue 11-Mar-25 13:39:37

I've had loads of these. Really they are not worth worrying about. Just block the sender.

cc Tue 11-Mar-25 13:44:15

I've had a few of these over the past few years, really nasty, but like others I knew they were spam because I knew the pictures and videos didn't exist. Imagine how you would feel if you know that there really were pictures or videos.