“Our experiences online today seem, at times, much like life was probably like in the Wild West about 145 years ago,” Derek Erwin writes for Intego. “Today, online thieves are out to get as much from you as possible. And when you connect to the Internet, you’re vulnerable to malware and hackers — it simply does not matter what computer or operating system you’re using.”
“The latest trick up cybercriminal’s sleeves is a ploy utilizing a mix of social engineering and blackmail, a scam via email from someone claiming to have hacked your computer’s webcam and recorded your activities while you allegedly watched porn,” Erwin writes. “The email claims you downloaded their virus while watching porn, siphoning your contacts, and they threaten to send the video of you to all of your friends, family and coworkers — unless you pay a ransom in Bitcoin (BTC) digital currency. (We’ve seen demands of anywhere between $300 to $3,000 USD or higher.)”
“If you have received such an email, it’s important to know that you most likely have not been hacked,” Erwin writes. “But what if the scam email includes a password that you’ve used in the past? Should you be concerned? The answer is yes and no. No, you shouldn’t be concerned that your Mac was hacked and there is a video of you watching porn… Yes, you should be concerned that your password was leaked through a data breach… By adding a password that you either currently still use or have used in the past, the scammer is using a tried and true social engineering tactic to give you the impression that they know more about you than they mention in the email.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Note: Obviously, remove that password from use, if you’re still using it.
Had one of these a week ago. Bit of a shock at first, then realised is was a scam when they said they had all my Microsoft Outlook email.
I got one of these, and replied to the offender (using a burner email account) by sending them the raunchiest porn I could find online. I told them we have no shame here, and we do things that they could only dream of. Oh, and by the way, the images you now have on your computer are illegal in your country.
I’d send them an email claiming copy right infringement on my personal porn and they need to pay me for the live show.
I would be happy to have them show videos of me making hairy palms.
My concern is will they pay me for the content.
You could write them and ask them to send you that free toaster. 😉
(not everyone will get that reference)
I’ve seen this a lot lately. I had one older guy actually consider paying. I said, “Let me get this straight, you’re gonna pay this but I can’t get you to pay my invoice?”
I just don’t watch porn. Problem solved. I’m not a prude, but there’s too much other stuff in my life, to waste my time on it.
I haven’t gotten this one, but the other day I got a bogus email receipt for my monthly Apple Music payment. It looked pretty close to the real thing, but the amount was over a dollar too high, and it didn’t include the state sales tax. A check of the address quickly showed it was fake, but someone more gullible may click on the live links. I forwarded it on to Apple as they suggest in these cases.
I also got this and knew it was not from Apple. I got it like 3 times saying they could not charge my account for Apple Music. The thing was my account had already been charged 😀
… those shifty devils get more evil by the day, curse them!
A friend of mine got hit by one of these. It did mention a password of his correctly for shock value and was very matter of fact wanting $3200 in Bitcoin payment – or else all his contacts will get a free peep show starring him. Nevermind there’s no way possible a “show” could’ve been recorded with either no camera available or the one he had taped over.
I got one of this emails a month ago, and I was really worried. But when they said they would expose my foot fetishes, I knew they were lying, had they said domination and bondage, then I would had given them the $1,000 they demanded. Be careful people!
I heard about a very sophisticated scam targeting online dating services where a dude was corresponding with a younger female who at one point says something to the effect of “you realize im only 17”, followed by a (fake) phone call from angry father and (fake) call from cop at police station (which has spoofed caller ID. The “officer” then suggests the dude is able to pay a fine or ticket to make it all go away…
I keep tape over the webcam. Problem solved.
Ah the good old days when the only scams were from Nigeria, Microsoft had real problems with their operating system and the Mac OS was so intuitive.
Nowadays I see similarities between Ballmer (Uncle Fester) and the Apple CEO. Yes I really do miss those good old days.