I received a bitcoin blackmail email. What to do?

I received a bitcoin blackmail email. What to do?

The most common form of blackmail involves threats to release embarrassing photos or information unless the victim pays a ransom in bitcoins. Other blackmail demands include threats of violence against the victim's family or friends and threats to publish private information on social networks.

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Criminals are now sending thousands of such blackmail emails every day, hoping that some will hit the mark and scare their victims into paying up. These messages are scams. Your accounts have not been compromised or hacked. It's understandable if you think otherwise - especially if the scammer sent you your home address obtained by IP or other data. However, you need to know that in addition to you, thousands of people have automatically received such emails. Perhaps the hacker suspected your IP because you once opened a suspicious link.

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A simple way to stop blackmail scammers "on Bitcoin"

The best way to protect yourself from such emails is not to click on the links or attachments contained in them. Cybercriminals will use your curiosity against you to get you to access your computer by clicking on a link that has been set up to infect you with malware.

The scammer sends millions of such messages because it is enough to provoke just one emotional reaction in someone who just happened to have a stressful week. And so it takes over his funds. Don't be fooled this way.

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How to protect yourself from "bitcoin" blackmail

Malware allows cybercriminals to monitor your online activity and access sensitive information, such as credit card details, bank accounts and passwords, among others. To protect yourself from these threats, always remember to:

• Never open email attachments or click any links in an email unless you are expecting a real message from someone you know;
• If you are not expecting an email from someone you know, DO NOT open it or download any attachments or files;
• Update all programs and operating systems on your devices; don't use pirated software and make sure all your software is original through legitimate methods. If you can't afford to purchase programs outright, there are many free alternatives available online
• Keep all your passwords safe - never share them with anyone online or save them where others can find them. Be sure to change your passwords frequently so you are not tracked by cybercriminals who may have already obtained them."

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Cybersecurity expert, explains.

"If you have not clicked on anything suspicious or opened any suspicious links on your computer, there is no reason to believe that your computer has been breached. It is highly unlikely that someone managed to hack into your system just because they sent you an email."

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I received an email from a bitcoin hacker - am I at risk?

Without going into technical details, the email you received is a scam. You are not in danger of losing your bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies; there is no reason to panic. The email you received is the digital equivalent of spam.

The e-mail you receive is an attempt at social engineering: taking advantage of the recipient's concern for his or her own safety to induce him or her to take an action he or she would not otherwise take. In this case, by suggesting that someone has stolen your funds, the sender is trying to get you to send money.

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Since this is a scam, you should not send anyone any money in response to this email, no matter how legitimate it may seem. If someone has indeed hacked into your account, there are many ways to gain access to your funds without getting any money in return.

In fact, if someone actually tried to steal your cryptocurrency, they absolutely would not do it this way therefore you are certainly not at risk in any way. The best way to avoid this kind of thing is to always be skeptical of any unsolicited contact over the Internet, especially emails asking for personal information - it should go without saying, but don't give out any sensitive information in response to an email.

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Examples of BTC blackmail emails with commentary

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1) An example of a scammer's message

‍Hello,
I'm writing to you because I sent you an e-mail the other day and I'm sure you'll be interested in what I have to say.

My malware has collected all your contacts from social networks, email and instant messaging that you have visited. If you don't know how it works, here's a simple explanation:

My software was downloaded to your computer and allowed me to access your camera and microphone at any time. Then my software gathered all the data from your computer and collected a lot of embarrassing material from you (such as videos taken with your camera). I think $945 is a fair price for our little secret. You will make the payment using bitcoin (if you don't know how to do it, search for "how to buy bitcoin and how to send payment" on Google). The sum should be sent in BTC currency.

BTC wallet: XXXX

2) A short and concise attempt to defraud you, along with a suspicious link

‍Welcome, your btc was sent to an anonymous address. Click the link below to get your bitcoin back.

http://dnblacksite.com/recover-btc?id=7e178f2e4d7c4b3a0f7cd3ad9b28cd1d315fbd27

3) Sophisticated attempt at fraud

Hello,

We have access to your operating system. We have installed RAT software on your device. We know that you have visited some pornography websites, and the RAT software gave us access to the front camera of your device. We then made a two-screen video. The first part shows the video you watched, the second part shows the view from your device's camera (it records you while you watch the video). What should you do? We think $800 is a fair price for our silence.

If we do not receive bitcoin, we will send your video to all your contacts, including relatives, co-workers and so on. Nevertheless, if we receive payment, we will immediately destroy the video. If you want proof, reply "Yes!" and we will send your video to your 5 friends. This is a non-negotiable offer, so please do not waste my and your personal time by responding to this e-mail.

Pay with Bitcoin.

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How blackmailing bitcoin scammers operate in 2022

The modus operandi is simple: criminals spread malware to computers around the world, waiting for the right victim. When a user clicks on such an attachment, it infects his or her computer with ransomware that encrypts all the data on the computer.

It then displays an error message stating that your files are locked and you must pay a ransom in bitcoins to get them back. The victim pays, usually within a few hours. As you can imagine, this scam is very profitable for cybercriminals because it is very easy.

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The blackmailers also operate through a widespread phishing campaign that relies on emails impersonating messages from major companies such as DHL, UPS and WhatsApp. The emails used in this campaign are well-designed and go beyond simple phishing attempts, using names such as "DHL package delivery error" or "UPS tracking update," which are more likely to catch the victim's attention.

They also use links that appear genuine at first glance, but actually lead to malicious sites hosted on services such as Cloudflare and Microsoft Azure. Most people will not recognize these domains as fake so they will open the link without hesitation and their computer will be infected with malware.

Other bitcoin scams are those in which scammers promise to multiply your investment by as much as 10 times or even 100 times. They show you screenshots depicting how they supposedly made some money with the bitcoin multiplier and lure you into investing in their system.

You should never be fooled by bitcoin multipliers, as they are all scams. Often you would have to invest a large sum of money to get a small return, so it's not worth the risk. It's also a common scam if someone promises you access to their secret mining system, which will earn you hundreds of bitcoins a day. What really happens is that he steals your investment and disappears with the money.

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Typical tricks of bitcoin scammers. Don't be fooled.

In the world of bitcoin and cryptocurrencies, there are people who are taking advantage of the trust our society places in digital currencies in an attempt to defraud their hard-earned money. These scams usually focus on emails that appear to come from a reliable source (such as an email purporting to be from a

your bank or the IRS) that inform you that the recipient has received a large sum of money and must pay taxes on it immediately. While this may seem like an easy way to grab a quick buck, these scams can be dangerous - the scammers behind them may use hacked email addresses from hacked databases or other illegal sources.

They may also use forged documents or websites to get you to send the requested amount of money. You should always take a moment to verify whether or not an email or website is genuine - if it asks for payment or personal information, don't click suspicious links, open attachments or send money.

There are many ways scammers try to get your information and steal your money. Here are some common tricks they use:

• Phishing scams: emails pretending to come from a person or company you trust. Emails may even include a link to a site where you are asked to enter information. . Always check the URL in your browser before entering any personal information on a new site.
• Fake sites: sites that look like the real thing, but are not! These sites usually ask for personal information or try to get you to send money without knowing why. Make sure the URL is correct before entering any private information on a new site.
• Fake documents: Scammers may send documents that look like they come from an official source - banks, government agencies, etc. - and ask you to send money or provide confidential information to solve a problem. If you receive such an unexpected message, find out which agency or body allegedly issued the document before you take any action (use Google or search online) - if it's not real, contact the organization directly and ask if they sent it. If they say it's not true, it's probably a scam.

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Hacked bitcoin account. What are my options?

If you've been hacked, you're not alone! This is a common problem for Bitcoin users, and the good news is that there are ways to protect yourself from this type of theft.

If someone has gained access to your private key, you can still prove that you own your account and regain control of it. The first thing you need to do is make sure the hacker did not transfer your coins to another account in his possession.

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This can be done by checking for new transactions on the blockchain for any addresses associated with your account. If there are no new transactions, the hacker has not yet gained access to your bitcoins, which means they are still in your account.

The next step is to change the password on the wallet so that the hacker cannot get back to it. Do this as soon as possible so that he doesn't have time to change it. Coinbase has its own customer support team and can also help you with this problem. There are also online guides that will walk you through each step of the hacked account process.

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Bitcoin blackmail email - cases described on the forum

A thread appeared on the bitcoin.org forum, "Strange mail from blackmailer." Here are some cases shared by people on the forum https://forum.bitcoin.pl/

"I received an email claiming that I was being watched by my webcam when I visited adult sites, and that they had video on me. I didn't pay and nothing bad happened."

"I received a phone call from someone claiming to be from the IRS, who said I owed tax on income from a business I don't own. They threatened to sue me or suspend my driver's license if I didn't pay them the tax immediately or send bitcoin to their wallet. I got scared , paid and later found out it was a scam."

"I repeatedly receive emails from the sender claiming that they have my passwords to various accounts and that if I don't pay them 0.1 BTC, they will send the information to these sites and my identity will be exposed."

"I am a Bitcoin user from Norway. I have received a lot of spam over the years, but I usually delete them without thinking twice. I recently received an email from someone claiming to have hacked into my computer and demanding that I send 0.2 BTC to the address at the address provided within 10 minutes or he would publish all my files online - I wasn't fooled, nothing ever happened."

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What have these cases of BTC blackmail described on the forum taught us?

On the forum, many people have experienced blackmail situations. They were contacted by a stranger who blackmailed them with information about children, parents or other intimate family matters. Many people believed and sent money to the cybercriminals. What do these cases described in the forum teach us?

• You should never send money to anyone you don't know , even if they blackmail you. If you pay, there is a high probability that you will be attacked again and again until your money runs out.
• Verify all the information you receive online!
• Do not respond to the blackmailer , report SPAM and delete the message.

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Don't repeat these mistakes of people who have received bitcoin blackmail

If you received this e-mail, you are a victim of a criminal who wants to extort money from you. This is a scam and you should not pay anything to these people. If they convince you that you have malware on your computer then your files are probably still intact. This is because the scammers who send these e-mails do not actually have access to your computer - their goal is simply to get you to pay them money under false pretenses.

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Scam demanding bitcoin payments. What and how.

Bitcoin is a very attractive currency that we can use to pay for things online and make payments using it. Because of its attractiveness, it is exposed to many attacks by cybercriminals , which target us. The above article outlines the scams you may encounter with Bitcoin. We hope that the whole thing will be a warning for you and you will not be scammed!

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