Got an extortion email today

Nathan

Nathan

SF VIP
Location
High Desert- Calif.
Yea, this crook wants $2000 to keep my "secret" online behavior secret, wants bitcoin payment...or else. The way the email was worded it's a clear case of extortion. I copied the email and attachment to a USB drive and will go to the Sheriff's substation in town tomorrow to file a report. The thing that bothers me is that through some data breach, maybe a couple, this a$$h@le knows my email, my name,my phone number and my home address. This could maybe never end...? Damn the "people-search" sites and data breaches that expose a person to the world of criminals.
 

I've had the same over a period of about 12 months, with a gap of a couple of months between each set of emails. Apparenly a the person or organisation behind the emails has a video of me from my camera on my PC. This is remarkable really, considering I've never had a camera on my PC.

Some of those emails say that it's my lucky day, in that I'm lucky that some other more unscrupulous person doesn't have the video. The person behind the emails seemed to think I ought to be grateful that I can pay him several thousand pounds for not posting it to friends, relatives and employers, as opposed to someone who might post it anyway without contacting me. Apart from that, the rest of the email seemed very well written. They would even help me set up a BitCoin account to transfer the money.

In one email they mentioned me by name and told me my password to my email account, which was all correct. The password they mention was last used by me about 10 years ago. Changed many times since then. It seems that email addresses and associated passwords get sold and passed around.

Needless to say, I do expect to see a video of myself on the internet or relayed back to me any time soon
 
If the Sheriff's substation is anal about security, they may not let you put a USB drive on their computer. Dunno

Maybe forward the email to them? As well, a forwarded email may contain more forensic information than a copy to a USB drive :unsure:

Also, I doubt they will and/or maybe can't do anything about it, but it doesn't hurt to have threats documented.
 
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Nathan said:
Yea, this crook wants $2000 to keep my "secret" online behavior secret, wants bitcoin payment...or else. The way the email was worded it's a clear case of extortion. I copied the email and attachment to a USB drive and will go to the Sheriff's substation in town tomorrow to file a report. The thing that bothers me is that through some data breach, maybe a couple, this a$$h@le knows my email, my name,my phone number and my home address. This could maybe never end...? Damn the "people-search" sites and data breaches that expose a person to the world of criminals.
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I liked when scammers tried me. I would string them along till they got mad, curse me out and hang up or leave the text. I would give them fake credit card numbers. Act like I was feeble and couldn't understand, agree to meet in person and wouldn't show up and other annoying things. They stopped bothering me a long time ago and I never get any scam texts or calls anymore.
 
Naturally said:
If the Sheriff's substation is anal about security, they may not let you put a USB drive on their computer. Dunno

Maybe forward the email to them? As well, a forwarded email may contain more forensic information than a copy to a USB drive :unsure:

Also, I doubt they will and/or maybe can't do anything about it, but it doesn't hurt to have threats documented.
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I called my son to discuss this matter, he is more proficient than I in identity protection, as he needs to be, in his 'side gig' working with the courts in judgement enforcement. When mentioning the idea of taking the matter to the Sheriff's Dept. he expressed his doubts that they would be much interested in devoting time and attention to such small potatoes...knowing Sheriff deputies as I do, I had to agree. Best thing to do is nothing, my data(along with millions of people) is on the Dark Web from several data breaches. I've been doing all the prudent security steps all along, but if some corporation doesn't exercise proper computer security, that's out of my control.
I was initially rattled by this, because having worked in a prison with inmates, one of my blabber-mouth co-workers spilled the beans on where I live, turns out one of my inmate workers grew up in my home town. Before I left State Corrections I Googled myself, and went to the "people finder" websites that had my personal information, and filed takedown requests to remove my personal information. I also contacted the county tax assessor and requested my name be removed from public facing databases. That's about as good as it gets, for manually tightening up the holes on personal data .
The extortion message was in an email attachment , didn't want to open it, even-though I only use Linux I didn't want any possible virus payloads coming my way. I booted into a Linux "live" session, downloaded the attachment and took a screenshot of it:

mesg.png
 
Nathan said:
I called my son to discuss this matter, he is more proficient than I in identity protection, as he needs to be, in his 'side gig' working with the courts in judgement enforcement. When mentioning the idea of taking the matter to the Sheriff's Dept. he expressed his doubts that they would be much interested in devoting time and attention to such small potatoes...knowing Sheriff deputies as I do, I had to agree. Best thing to do is nothing, my data(along with millions of people) is on the Dark Web from several data breaches. I've been doing all the prudent security steps all along, but if some corporation doesn't exercise proper computer security, that's out of my control.
I was initially rattled by this, because having worked in a prison with inmates, one of my blabber-mouth co-workers spilled the beans on where I live, turns out one of my inmate workers grew up in my home town. Before I left State Corrections I Googled myself, and went to the "people finder" websites that had my personal information, and filed takedown requests to remove my personal information. I also contacted the county tax assessor and requested my name be removed from public facing databases. That's about as good as it gets, for manually tightening up the holes on personal data .
The extortion message was in an email attachment , didn't want to open it, even-though I only use Linux I didn't want any possible virus payloads coming my way. I booted into a Linux "live" session, downloaded the attachment and took a screenshot of it:
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The FBI and most state investigative bureaus have a scam unit that will take your complaint. You will find it on their website(s).

It's my understanding that they compile these complaints and at least attempt to act on them when they get over a certain number of them, or if they recognize the source. But most scammers and extortionists are in countries that don't cooperate with US policing agencies, so they can't do anything beyond notifying the foreign police HQ nearest to the scammer's known location, and just leaving it up to them.
 
CallMeKate said:
This is Oregon, but all states should have something similar. I think the FBI may have a cyber crime reporting page. But anyhow, this sounds like yours: ‘I’ve got video of you’: New Blackmail Scam - Oregon Department of Justice
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@CallMeKate , great find, that's the scam I received.

If anyone wants to check whether their personal data is on the dark web: Have I Been Pwned: Check if your email has been compromised in a data breach

My data had been stolen in 4 different data breaches. :rolleyes:
 
Nathan said:
Yea, this crook wants $2000 to keep my "secret" online behavior secret, wants bitcoin payment...or else. The way the email was worded it's a clear case of extortion. I copied the email and attachment to a USB drive and will go to the Sheriff's substation in town tomorrow to file a report. The thing that bothers me is that through some data breach, maybe a couple, this a$$h@le knows my email, my name,my phone number and my home address. This could maybe never end...? Damn the "people-search" sites and data breaches that expose a person to the world of criminals.
Click to expand...
Good idea! Go report the criminal! Ya! They always want gift cards or bitcoins. Tell 'em to drop dead! I think they get a lot of personal info from social media sites. They are definitely "low lifes" who are too lazy to go and get a real job!
 
I got several of those blackmail emails. I'm 78 and there's nothing I could do online that's scandalous. But it did bother me that my name & addresses were in the email. I doubt the local cops would have jurisdiction over an email extortion case, nor the expertise. The Feds should be able to trace Mr. Gimme Bitcoin's deposit accounts, etc.. I have no idea which Federal agency to notify. The FBI can only respond to crimes committed inside the US. Mr G. Bitcoin could be anywhere there's the internet.
 
I have received email that really looked legitimate but my gut feeling said nope, don’t open this one. It also infuriates me that they have my email address but I also understand that with scammers it’s a one time, move on kind of thing. If they get a bite, they will pursue. If not, they move on. I think almost everyone is aware how scammers work – never open a suspicious email – err on the side that if you think it really is from someone you know, that person would likely follow up with a phone call anyway.
 
Nathan said:
Yea, this crook wants $2000 to keep my "secret" online behavior secret, wants bitcoin payment...or else. The way the email was worded it's a clear case of extortion. I copied the email and attachment to a USB drive and will go to the Sheriff's substation in town tomorrow to file a report. The thing that bothers me is that through some data breach, maybe a couple, this a$$h@le knows my email, my name,my phone number and my home address. This could maybe never end...? Damn the "people-search" sites and data breaches that expose a person to the world of criminals.
Click to expand...
The same happened to me several years ago. I copied it and showed the police. They said it was a common occurance and that I should block the sender, change my password and (if necessary) change my phone number although, as you say, "people search sites" make it too easy to find you eventually anyway. As far as actually being extored I think you know that isn't going to happen, unless you give them money naturally.
 
astralcat said:
.... It also infuriates me that they have my email address
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Yes.
astralcat said:
... but I also understand that with scammers it’s a one time, move on kind of thing. If they get a bite, they will pursue. If not, they move on.
Click to expand...
Well, yes and no. In addition to having the same problem as in the OP I have also have this problem that is on-going. Apparently, the e-mail address of an acquaintance has been hacked so everyone in his address book is registered there. Such information is sold to some sort of scammer's depot. In my case, I get an e-mail from my acquaintance (his name) but from a different return e-mail address. The title is always the same, “Photos of people you might remember” or “I don’t remember if I already sent you this photo”. This happens maybe once a week.

I block the return address but the next one arrives from another address but in the name of my acquaintance each time. I have blocked probably 100 or more of those addresses but new ones arrive anyway. I just now checked and I have already 7 e-mails from that "fake guy" this month alone and it's only the 18th. of December!

These people are fly fishing but I don’t bite. If I knew how to block the sender rather than the sender's address then I could end it once and for all but I've never taken the time to figure out how to do that. Naturally, I can apply for a new e-mail address myself and delete the one I have but long ago I un-friended the acquaintance so there is no chance of me clicking on any arriving e-mails in his name.
 
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