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The FTC uses the information it gets from people who report scams to keep close watch on trends, so we can alert you to changes. Here’s one: reports of Bitcoin blackmail scams have taken a big jump in the last few weeks. The emails say they hacked into your computer and recorded you visiting adult websites. They threaten to distribute the video to your friends and family within hours, unless you pay into their Bitcoin account. Stop. Don’t pay anything. Delete the message. It’s a scam.

Based on the timing of this spike, you may get one of these messages because your email was exposed in a recent data breach. The scammers may say they have access to your computer or webcam, or installed clever software to defeat you. That’s all talk. But they may really know one of your old – or recent – passwords, and they include it in the message to prove it. When you see that, you know it’s time to update your password on that account, and consider updating other passwords, too.

If you, or someone you know, get a message like this, please report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

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The purpose of this blog and its comments section is to inform readers about Federal Trade Commission activity, and share information to help them avoid, report, and recover from fraud, scams, and bad business practices. Your thoughts, ideas, and concerns are welcome, and we encourage comments. But keep in mind, this is a moderated blog. We review all comments before they are posted, and we won’t post comments that don’t comply with our commenting policy. We expect commenters to treat each other and the blog writers with respect.

  • We won’t post off-topic comments, repeated identical comments, or comments that include sales pitches or promotions.
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  • We won’t post threats, defamatory statements, or suggestions or encouragement of illegal activity.
  • We won’t post comments that include personal information, like Social Security numbers, account numbers, home addresses, and email addresses. To file a detailed report about a scam, go to ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

We don't edit comments to remove objectionable content, so please ensure that your comment contains none of the above. The comments posted on this blog become part of the public domain. To protect your privacy and the privacy of other people, please do not include personal information. Opinions in comments that appear in this blog belong to the individuals who expressed them. They do not belong to or represent views of the Federal Trade Commission.

Quest
April 15, 2021
i got an email saying that I logged onto a fake website and so now someone has all my information. and they said I have been watching -inapropriate- stuff and they said if I dont pay $1750 in the next 48 hours, then they will gather there information and send out a video too all my contacts.. like whattttttt someone tell me this if fake and that its a scam cause i've been freaking out this whole day.
JackFitz
April 20, 2021
I got this email yesterday but they didn't display any password what do I do.
Dude
April 21, 2021

In reply to by JackFitz

Got this today too with a .txt file that had the Bitcoin wallet. No password but it did have my full name I don’t normally use, also it was sent from a yahoo address so it didn’t go to to my spam folder like most of these would
JTD
April 22, 2021

In reply to by Dude

This happened to me today! It used my full name in the subject line... then a few hours later got another with a txt file. I was getting kind of nervous. Looks like either we are ALL going to be exposed or this is just a scam! :)
TLC4678
April 20, 2021
I just received an email demanding $1460 via Bitcoin. It said they had been recording me for the past month and had explicit videos of me along with an adult website browsing history. It also said I had 48 hours to pay or it would be sent to family, friends, relatives, and published on adult sites. They included an old email account as their proof. Definitely a scam.
fruitlover97
April 21, 2021
I received one of these emails two days ago, and another one today! They’re definitely scam, so don’t freak out. I’m changing all my password just to be safe, though. I hope people don’t fall for this and pay them, they’re evil people. Just delete and move on! <3
Hamstroid
April 22, 2021
Man, I’m so glad I got this cause I got a email like this. Depending 950 dollars in Bitcoin. I’m happy that it ain’t real in anyway. Thanks for having my back guys.
JH
April 27, 2021
I just received this type of email with a 24 hour payment deadline. They used one of my current passwords, but it is not written correctly. Either way, like others have said, it's time for me to change it.
Jan
April 28, 2021
I received this same email on April 28th 2021. So it’s still going around ! I’m not going to lie I kind of panicked a little. My son found this website for me, so I’m better now! I did change my password.
Nice try!
May 03, 2021
They are still at it with these emails. Sent me one on 5/1/21 saying the same thing all of you have said. They wanted $2778 in Bitcoin and if I didn't pay they would send the alleged adult videos of me and whatever I was allegedly watching to all of my contacts. They had an old password I haven't used in YEARS. I don't even know what that password is tied to. Deleted the email and sent a copy via complaint through this FTC website. These hackers are honestly so pathetic!
arjun pasbola
May 06, 2021
By the way, did anyone dared to respond in "yup" as instructed in email wherein he will put your videos to 19 of your contacts? I received that email yesterday and it was actually my old password which drew my attention.
86NY
May 24, 2021
I just received an email like this today, in my spam. I deleted it immediately. Was from a Henry Ramirez or something like that.
Deez
June 05, 2021
I just use my laptop for gaming so I was very confused
MAZZ
June 05, 2021
I just got one today. It's subject is an old password and the claim as mentioned above. The password was an archaic one I haven't used for years, and Chrome made it easy to identify which site it likely came from (Newgrounds?) Just changed it and knew by the nature of the rest of the email that they couldn't have any access to social media given no connection.
Draken
June 06, 2021
I also got a similar one 6 days ago but after I looked it up and saw the comments I was relieved!
Hello
June 08, 2021
Received one of these this morning, giving me 24 hours to comply. At first was very worried, however finding this forum has helped me be less worried.
Adrian
June 08, 2021
They said they had a password of mine on a ipad mini I had in 2007 when I was like 4, so tbh I don't blame them for knowing and I dont care lol.
Kyer
June 11, 2021
Got one in my spam folder from a Jimmy Ramirez. Saying pretty much what others have said. They mentioned a password they obtained then said they malware on a adult website I visited and turneed my web browser into a remote control desktop with key logger and made a split screen video of me thru my webcam with the video I was watching and threatened to send to all my contacts on social media and email unless I paid that like $5k. Deleted the email.
TOM
June 12, 2021
got the exact same email, word for word. Different number of money asking but basically same outline. Freaked out but thought it was weird they used the word “webcam” since I don’t use my computer but phone more. Thank you for this site and comments, will be deleting and better aware of passwords and websites.
Timo
June 13, 2021
Same wording, but $5899 now. I’ve never watched porn but it is still unnerving to see an old password.
Calitini
June 13, 2021
I received the exact same email that is being reported in the comments below from last year. The scam is still happening.
GummyBear42
June 14, 2021
I got one using my son’s name from a supposed ex con who would come find him if not paid 1,000. Mentioned that he’s “been watching him, really likes him, his eyes, smile, and the way he looks at me” super creepy and disturbing. I know it’s spam and that there are easy ways to figure out I have a son but it’s really messing with my head :/ I can’t find a similar spam to this and wondering if anyone else got one....
Annoyed
July 07, 2021

In reply to by GummyBear42

It’s still going on! I’m not buying anything online anymore. I’ve deleted most of my shopping apps and am going to attempt to live a simple life from now on. This is exhausting! Maybe I’ll start making my own clothes.
James J
June 27, 2021
I got the same message attempting to get money with sextortion, i scare a little because it look like the mail was sent by me but it was in the spam folder, i did a research and found similar cases. I change all my password and add more security but it's disturbing and upset, what world do we live in?
Beis99
July 01, 2021
just received that email with a password that i used fairly often (use no more though) and demanded a whopping 5798 dollars. Thing is i never used this pc to look at explicit websites and don't even own a webcam lol. Stay safe and trust no one on the internet!
crazyhowsomepplare
July 03, 2021
So what do I do? How do I report it and also how did they know how many people I have on my contacts??
Mynameisjeff
July 04, 2021
Yeah I received the same email with an old MyFitnessPal password on there asking for $5746. My fitness pal had a breach in 2018 so all passwords were breached then. But yeah report it and delete it people, don’t worry.
HairGuru
July 04, 2021
I just got an email from someone called Santa, saying all of this stuff to me. I wasn’t foolish enough to fall for it, as I do not do any of the things they said. Thank you for taking care of matters such as these. I feel sorry for the poor people who fall victims to this kind of harassment.
Sumit
July 05, 2021
I received same kind email today in junk folder of email account, asking that they have access of my email & webcam , mouse etc & they can get into my information & can share videos etc, they ask me to pay $1850 into their Bitcoin wallet. Their email address is even start with noreply@, not a valid one like Gmail or outlook.com.
Pat
July 09, 2021
I received one a few days ago but was in my spam so I didn’t see it earlier. But it said he had bad news and that he had acess to my phone for a few months and he know what I’m seeing. Bruxasse he installled a invisibilidade vírus. And he recorded and would send to my family and friends in two days if I did isn’t send the amount he was asking via Bitcoin. It passed 5 days since.
New
August 25, 2021

In reply to by Pat

Mine was very similar to yours too. started as having bad news with a weird font and gave me 5 days. This calms me down, knowing theyre a scam
67-year old in NY
July 09, 2021
Yes, got this too--word for word. Knew it was fake because I don't have a webcam. They wanted $5,865 from me within 24 hours. Reported it to the FTC. The fraudsters are taking advantage of the current proliferation of hacks by the Russians on corporations and governments worldwide.
Dogs Dad
July 13, 2021
Scam emails demand Bitcoin, threaten blackmail I just had one of these as well. I suffer from anxiety and depression, i keep telling myself it's just a scam, I'm so glad I found this site and so many have posted they received an email like me, I deleted it so can't report it via the page given so I thought I'd record it here.
Artemis Nocte
July 13, 2021
I got a email saying I no one of your password is, they was trying to scam bitcoin out of me. This is the second time it's happened, I changed my passwords on all accounts I used. I didn't open the email that was in my spam folder
NK
July 13, 2021
I'm from India, and I received an email saying if I don't pay the person on the other end payment in bitcoin it will leak my video to my friends, relatives etc.
The Dog
July 14, 2021
I received one of those messages yesterday. 13-07-2021
CaliJan
July 14, 2021
A very similar email was sent to me 9 days ago and I freaked out a bit because I did have an issue with my credit card info getting stolen recently. But i think it's just a coincidence and honestly my browsing patterns not very juicy or interesting. Did make me change all my email passwords though.
Same here
July 15, 2021
I just got the same threatening message last week, the 26th. Curiously, the ransom was not a rounded off number, and it was a weird amount. I would also report this to the Internet Crime Complaint Center. I will!
Max
July 15, 2021
I got the same exact email on 20th June, the funny thing is I noticed it yesterday only.
Chely
July 19, 2021
Got the same email July 19, that they had hacked into my FB, Instagram and messenger. I did notice my FB was active in a different city so I immediatly changed my password for all apps.
joker845
July 20, 2021
I read this comment and I got the same email, even today repeated, anyhow this person "Wa.." is absolutely and idiot by sending this email to people and scare people for nothing, I go straight to the point, anyone can view email, and for my experience I have tried to understand how this idiot is sending me email within my email guys this is very simple I did not need to change my password because there is not access from nobody the simple answer is when you send an email from A so what happen is I send an email to myself by putting my email to it, so in reality what I understood even if I change my password I will still receive the email I hope i make sense and help others, this is my experience
The one
July 22, 2021
I got an email today on July 22 2021. I knew it was a scam cause they referred to me as “the man” but I wasn’t too sure then I found this article. They are asking for $1,159 in Bitcoin. I got a little scared but now that I know it’s a scam I don’t feel as stressed
Dabo
August 21, 2021

In reply to by The one

I got that same amount last night. I was scared as hell. Glad to see this community!
robertr
July 23, 2021
there are real crafty in trying to trick you by somehow using your name to get an account then sending letter I can see how someone might think there hacked
Rybread
July 26, 2021
I got the same email as everyone below but I don’t recognize the password as one I’ve ever used, could be someone else in my families password. Creepy.
Nathaniel
July 30, 2021
I actually recently had this happen to me from someone claiming to be a hacker from another country. He contacted me on my Facebook messenger, had actuall photos and my address book from my Gmail. The photos he had we're of me and my partner. My chest dropped!
Annoyed
August 02, 2021
I got an email that was sent from my email that if I didn’t send $1150 to a certain Bitcoin wallet they were gonna send a video of myself watching pornography to my friends and family. They claimed they had access to my passwords, contact list, social media and camera and microphones.
Anxious1
August 05, 2021

In reply to by Annoyed

I got the same thing. I got scared than starting looking up info and came across this page. Gives me some piece of mind but still.