Another variant of blackmail emails that threaten to pass on a “masturbation video” is in circulation.

That email uses clumsy German and the use of technical terms to try to intimidate users into paying the requested amount. The email is presented like this:

Screenshot mimikama.org
Screenshot mimikama.org

“Subject: It’s about your safety.
Hello, dear user of XXXX

We have installed RAT software on your device.
At this time your email account is hacked (see , now I have access to your accounts).
I have downloaded all confidential information from your system and I have received further evidence.
The most interesting things I've discovered are videos of you masturbating.

I posted my virus on the porn site and then they installed it on your operating system.
When you clicked the play button on porn video, at that moment my Trojan was downloaded to your device.
Once installed, your front camera will record a video every time you masturbate; In addition, the software is synchronized with the video you have selected.

Currently, the software has collected all your contact information from social networks and email addresses.
If you need to delete all data collected from your system, send me $300 in BTC (cryptocurrency).
This is my Bitcoin Wallet: 1KxCvtggcPd7c9UtUxYkJW2AwCQMknJkth
You have 2 days after reading this letter.

After your transaction I will delete all your data.
Otherwise I will send video with your pranks to all your colleagues and friends!!!

And from now on, be more careful!
Please only visit safe websites!
Bye!"

Apparently the blackmailer wasn't really sure what to write.
Although he uses impressive technical terms (RAT software = Remote Access Trojan, i.e. a Trojan that allows you to remotely access a PC), on the one hand he writes that he found the videos on the PC, but on the other hand they were only recorded by the Trojan been. In addition, “only” the email account was hacked; in the next sentence he claims that this gave him access to the entire system. Last but not least, there are “videos of your pranks,” which makes no sense at all (unless someone used a bad translator: stroke = caress).

Fact check

These blackmail attempts are not new. Similar emails appeared last year and the police also warned about this scam.

Bitcoins are still very popular – even among cybercriminals. Such emails are usually sent randomly to different people (with or without a personal salutation). No proof of the existence of the allegedly filmed material is provided. This means it cannot be clearly proven whether the blackmailers really have video material of the victims or not.

So far there has only been one similar case in which a user was actually blackmailed .

However, you can never rule out infection with malware. Because when you visit dubious sites, it can always happen that you get malware. Good virus protection protects users from this potential danger.

Should I pay the blackmailer?

It is not advisable to pay the blackmailer immediately. In addition to not relying on a criminal's word, any user who gives in to such a demand qualifies as a potential "permanent victim." to report such emails and other blackmail attempts immediately to the nearest police station .

The LKA Lower Saxony has also published some links where you can check for yourself whether your own email address appears in leaked databases:

But be careful: The pages do not claim to be complete, and leaked databases often only become known months or even years later, so unfortunately you cannot be completely safe if your own email address does not appear in the databases.

Result:

In most cases, such emails are pure attempts at fraud and the blackmailer does not have any juicy video footage of his victim.

Unfortunately, you can never completely rule out this possibility, so it makes sense to definitely report the blackmail to the police!

Tip: If you want to be on the safe side, you can cover your device's camera with a small sticker and remove it if necessary. Good virus protection should still be a high priority.


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Notes:
1) This content reflects the current state of affairs at the time of publication. The reproduction of individual images, screenshots, embeds or video sequences serves to discuss the topic. 2) Individual contributions were created through the use of machine assistance and were carefully checked by the Mimikama editorial team before publication. ( Reason )