The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #65307   Message #3959645
Posted By: EBarnacle
02-Nov-18 - 12:04 AM
Thread Name: BS: All the Scams Aren't in Nigeria
Subject: RE: BS: All the Scams Aren't in Nigeria
Here's a really new, nasty one.
I recently received a series of emails telling me that a hacker had attacked and penetrated my computer[s] and wanted $900 in bitcoin to call off the attack. it supposedly originated with me to me and the sender claimed to be an entity on the Dark Web. It forced me to do something I should have done all along, back up all of my data on external disks and record all of my program keys. A friend tells me this bit of nastiness is becoming increasingly common but is not real. The scammer does not have access to your files or camera although they have hacked your email password.

Here's an article about a similar scam.

https://www.businessinsider.com/new-email-scam-uses-old-password-fake-porn-threats-webcam-video-bitcoin-2018-7