PSA for scammers extorting cash.

[bakerjw]

Lately, I've been getting "We caught you watching porn and recorded it" e-mail scams.
They always use techno babble gibberish about how they are tracking you and put a virus on your computer to activate your webcam and record you.
Sometimes they reference you by name. One I received today called me by my name.
Sometimes you are lucky enough that they include your password.
All sites that I visit use identifying passwords. Something along the lines of /CastBoolits-1984. If I am lucky enough, they will include that. Sometimes I taunt them back telling them that they don't know my password so I don't believe them. If they give me an identifying password, then oftentimes I know which site was hacked.
So if you get an extortion e-mail, it is just because they hacked a site and got your information.

You can also check here to see if you were part of a security breach.
https://haveibeenpwned.com/

[starnbar]

The best one is the IRS scam I got the guy so mad he said he was gonna kill me I am still waiting

[Scrounge]

The best one is the IRS scam I got the guy so mad he said he was gonna kill me I am still waiting

Last guy who I talked to on a scam phone call that got whiney with me, I told him I expected the USG to drop a platoon of the 101st Airborne down his chimney one of these days. He shut up then, and hung up.

[gwpercle]

Thanks for the heads up .

Question ... If I don't have a webcam on my computer ... then they can't see me right ?
Gary

[gwpercle]

Last guy who I talked to on a scam phone call that got whiney with me, I told him I expected the USG to drop a platoon of the 101st Airborne down his chimney one of these days. He shut up then, and hung up.

LIKE LIKE LIKE ! ! !
That's Awesome ... you deserve a great big ATTABOY ! [smilie=s:
Gary
we still need a LIKE button

[Handloader109]

Yep, I own only one laptop that has a camera, and I only use it closed with external monitor. Ain't no one gonna see me, not that they would want to.
If you've had an email address for any length of time, it has been publicly disclosed. Yes, best way to prevent any hacks is to change passwords often.

[1hole]

Last guy who I talked to on a scam phone call that got whiney with me, I told him I expected the USG to drop a platoon of the 101st Airborne down his chimney one of these days. He shut up then, and hung up.

Just a technical thing there. Sadly, I'm told that the 101st is now just "airborne" but they're some mean helicopter riders; seems only the 82nd are still jumpers. I don't see how either bunch could ever run or march in formation, they have to have gonads the size of medium watermellons.

Ah well, a lot of the jumping glamor for the 101 is gone but I guess there's a place for both methods to quickly get behind the enemy and stir up trouble. Riding choppers should make it easier and therefore faster to form up into effective fighting units. AND they could immediately have more machine guns and bigger mortars with lots of ammo too.

(I once stood in front of the open side doors of goonie birds. I thought I could have been a jumper too but I was strong enough that it would have taken about ten really big guys to help me get out of that flying machine - and even then I suspect there would have been some visual damage to the door frame. ;))

[Scrounge]

Just a technical thing there. Sadly, I'm told that the 101st is now just "airborne" but they're some mean helicopter riders; seems only the 82nd are still jumpers. I don't see how either bunch could ever run or march in formation, they have to have gonads the size of medium watermellons.

Ah well, a lot of the jumping glamor for the 101 is gone but I guess there's a place for both methods to quickly get behind the enemy and stir up trouble. Riding choppers should make it easier and therefore faster to form up into effective fighting units. AND they could immediately have more machine guns and bigger mortars with lots of ammo too.

(I once stood in front of the open side doors of goonie birds. I thought I could have been a jumper too but I was strong enough that it would have taken about ten really big guys to help me get out of that flying machine - and even then I suspect there would have been some visual damage to the door frame. ;))

I'm an old USAF Master Sergeant, and I'd have been perfectly fine with my guys dropping a MOAB down his chimney, really, but the 101st just has a reputation. They scare the holy howling crap out of anyone who has any reason to think they might come visit.

[tankgunner59]

If you don't use your webcam, there is a mechanism to disable it and this mechanism can't be defeated by anyone but you. Gt ready and take notes. Go to your tool box, get a roll of electrical tape. Tear off a piece 1 inch long and place it over your webcam. I don't use mine so this is my process.

[nicholst55]

If you don't use your webcam, there is a mechanism to disable it and this mechanism can't be defeated by anyone but you. Gt ready and take notes. Go to your tool box, get a roll of electrical tape. Tear off a piece 1 inch long and place it over your webcam. I don't use mine so this is my process.

Exactly what I did after the first 'we're watching you, so send us Bitcoin' email that I received. I haven't received any more, so.... maybe they WERE watching me? Naw, not very likely.

[MrWolf]

Not worried about someone catching me at something I don't do, but I do put a small piece of tape over the camera hole on all my computers. Nice and easy precaution.

[bakerjw]

@MrWolf It's not a matter of being caught doing anything. The average computer user is fairly ignorant of the processes that run behind the scenes.

This is what the emails usually state. They give your name, usernames and valid passwords which tend to lend validity to their claims Regardless of ones online activity, it is enough to spook most people.

In this case, they didn't send it from my e-mail address although that is simple enough to do to people. I drilled through the e-mail header and was able to track them back a ways; however, it was likely sent from a compromised computer from some poor unsuspecting soul.


Hello <My Name was here>,
You may not know me and you are probably wondering why you are getting this e mail, right?
I'm a hacker who cracked your devices a few months ago.
I sent you an email from YOUR hacked account.
I setup a malware on the adult vids (porno) web-site and guess what, you visited this site to have fun (you know what I mean).

While you were watching videos, your internet browser started out functioning as a RDP (Remote Control) having a keylogger which gave me accessibility to your screen and web cam.

after that, my software program obtained all of your contacts and files.
You entered a passwords on the websites you visited, and I intercepted it.
Of course you can will change it, or already changed it.

But it doesn't matter, my malware updated it every time.
What did I do?
I created a double-screen video. 1st part shows the video you were watching (you've got a good taste haha . . .), and 2nd part shows the recording of your web cam.

Do not try to find and destroy my virus! (All your data is already uploaded to a remote server)
– Do not try to contact with me
– Various security services will not help you; formatting a disk or destroying a device will not help either, since your data is already on a remote server.

I guarantee you that I will not disturb you again after payment, as you are not my single victim. This is a hacker code of honor.
Don’t be mad at me, everyone has their own work. exactly what should you do?
Well, in my opinion, $1000 (USD) is a fair price for our little secret. You'll make the payment by Bitcoin (if you do not know this, search "how to buy bitcoin" in Google).

My Bitcoin wallet Address: bc1qkadqlq9e8scmlkhhp63c3u9jl49ydpwg9f3zqv
(It is cAsE sensitive, so copy and paste it)

Important: You have 48 hour in order to make the payment. (I've a facebook pixel in this mail, and at this moment I know that you have read through this email message). To track the reading of a message and the actions in it, I use the facebook pixel. Thanks to them. (Everything that is used for the authorities can help us.)

If I do not get the BitCoins, I will certainly send out your video recording to all of your contacts including relatives, coworkers, and so on. Having said that, if I receive the payment, I'll destroy the video immidiately. If you need evidence, reply with "Yes!" and I will certainly send out your video recording to your 6 contacts. It is a non-negotiable offer, that being said don't waste my personal time and yours by responding to this message.

Filing a complaint somewhere does not make sense because this email cannot be tracked like my bitcoin address. I do not make any mistakes. If I find that you have shared this message with someone else, the video will be immediately distributed. Bye!

[kayala]

I can see how non-technical people could be intimidated by such an email. The only thing of substance there is name, username and password - that information can be easily obtained from numerous DB leaked all the time from one site or the other. A good reminder for all of us to minimize reusing of passwords across different sites and make sure to use unique passwords for any financial institution one may use.

[nicholst55]

The emails that I received were neither that through nor that literate. Not that cheap, either - the first demanded like $1,3XX in Bitcoin; the second demanded $2K and change. I haven't received any more. One giveaway was that I haven't used the password that they bragged about for 10 years, or so, so I wasn't terribly concerned anyway.

[MrWolf]

Pretty elaborate scams. Like I said a simple piece of tape like painters tape, blocks the camera and no video. This way you are sure there is no video or visual spying on your system. No idea about audio recordings but if someone wants to listen to me screaming at the TV in the mornings because of what the idiots are doing to our country while I watch the news, be my guest.

[trebor44]

Simple question: if everyone had crap credit scores would there be an incentive on the part of scammers and hackers to engage in their "business" ?

[fatnhappy]

If they wanted nudes all they needed to do was ask.

[bakerjw]

The main point is, depending on how severe the hack was, they can have a lot of info on you. Web services are required by law to inform users of security breeches but many don't do it.

[Bmi48219]

if you don't use your webcam, there is a mechanism to disable it and this mechanism can't be defeated by anyone but you. Gt ready and take notes. Go to your tool box, get a roll of electrical tape. Tear off a piece 1 inch long and place it over your webcam. I don't use mine so this is my process.

this!!

[jonp]

Just a technical thing there. Sadly, I'm told that the 101st is now just "airborne" but they're some mean helicopter riders; seems only the 82nd are still jumpers. I don't see how either bunch could ever run or march in formation, they have to have gonads the size of medium watermellons.

Ah well, a lot of the jumping glamor for the 101 is gone but I guess there's a place for both methods to quickly get behind the enemy and stir up trouble. Riding choppers should make it easier and therefore faster to form up into effective fighting units. AND they could immediately have more machine guns and bigger mortars with lots of ammo too.

(I once stood in front of the open side doors of goonie birds. I thought I could have been a jumper too but I was strong enough that it would have taken about ten really big guys to help me get out of that flying machine - and even then I suspect there would have been some visual damage to the door frame. ;))

Yes, 101st are now Air Assault but that does increase their mobility and fast roping out of a chopper is quite fun and intimidating. Big Army reshuffled quite a bit in the last several years including turning my 50th Signal BN (ABN) into legs and moving them from Bragg to Gordon. It has a history even longer than the 101st going back to 1899 including every campaign from The Philippine Insurrection to my little jaunt into Granada to Iraq. When the 18th ABN Corp was formed we went there and if they went into combat we were on the ground with them. Since the 82cd was in the 18th that meant we hit everything. If you happen to get to Fayetteville and visit the Airborne and Special Operations Museum, highly recommended, right in front of the main doors is a granite flagstone with my Unit Crest.

[jonp]

I'm an old USAF Master Sergeant, and I'd have been perfectly fine with my guys dropping a MOAB down his chimney, really, but the 101st just has a reputation. They scare the holy howling crap out of anyone who has any reason to think they might come visit.

My Top was 101st in Vietnam. He was near retirement but no-one and I mean no-one crossed him. I think even our Company CO called him Sir.