Have you received an email with the subject Read this email or something terrible will happen? The email alleges that a hacker group, claiming association with well-known Russian hacker groups, has gained access to your internet activities and webcam. It claims to have your compromising webcam footage and search history. They demand $1350 in Bitcoin to prevent the release of this data and to “forget about each other forever”.
Question: Is it true that my system has been hacked, and do I need to pay them?
Investigation Findings: This type of email is commonly referred to as a “sextortion scam“. These claims are false; the scammer does not actually have access to your system or any compromising material. These emails aim to instill fear and coerce you into paying money.
Answer: The ‘Read this email or something terrible will happen’ email is a deceptive scam. 💡 To protect yourself, do not respond to the email or send any money. Make sure your antivirus is up to date, and consider running a thorough system scan. It is advisable to change your email and system passwords for added security.
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🚨 Is the ‘Read this email or something terrible will happen’ Email a Scam?
Yes, the email claiming that hackers have compromising footage of you, threatening to release it unless you pay in Bitcoin, is definitely a scam. 🚫 If you’ve received such an email, exercise extreme caution. The claims are fabricated and designed to instill urgency, misleading you into paying money to the scammer.
A typical “Read this email or something terrible will happen” scam email reads as follows:
<Good afternoon, my naive comrade.>
<Unfortunately, this letter will divide your life into before and after.>
<However, the good news is that it will teach you a lot.><For example, what you can and can’t do on the internet, how to treat your online security properly, and how not to leave digital footprints.>
<Most likely, you have heard about Russian hacker groups such as Cozy Bear, Killnet and others. Well, we work for them.><I hate to say it, but you have got in our mess.>
<In addition to our hacking activities, we are also running on the lookout for various suspicious online accounts that we would like to make money on.>
<We guess you are beginning to realize how we located you.><All normal people have their own sexual preferences.>
<However, what you are trying to find on the internet doesn’t fit into any, even the loosest moral standards.>
<Now we have your search requests and your webcam footage while you are pleasuring yourself.><We set a timer for public release. Nevertheless, don’t worry, there’s good news also.>
<Money is our only interest. Even among us, there are some strange persons, but they bring us so much profit that we ignore their deviations.><In this case, YOU should bring us the profit. For $1350 you and us will forget about each other forever.>
<You have 48 hours from the moment you open this email to transfer this $1350. We will be notified when you read the letter.>
<Here is the address of the Bitcoin wallet you should use for the payment:>>> 1E3yQDCaMNe2NjanoM1nJtasUZy6Xkzg6z <<<<Countdown has started, don’t keep us waiting.>
<Otherwise, all your friends, colleagues and relatives will get a copy of your records: search history, webcam videos and even personal messages.>
<!Do not forward this message to anyone, including the police. Doing so will result in the automatic posting of all information about you. We monitor what you are doing.>
<!Do not reply to this message. It was sent from a disposable email account, you can’t reply it, this email address is untraceable.><If you haven’t used crypto before everything is simple. Just google it.>
<That’s the end of our message. As they say, we hope for a fruitful cooperation. Otherwise, this will all end badly for you.>
<Goodbye, and hopefully this is our last interaction.><P. S. Remember for the future, the Internet is not some kind of a Wild West where you can do anything you want.>
<There is a wholesome shiver of hungry sharks searching for irresponsible persons like you.>
Background on the ‘Read this email or something terrible will happen’ Email Scam:
This scam involves fraudsters sending emails that claim they have gained access to your webcam and have compromising video footage of you. The scammers demand a ransom in Bitcoin to prevent the release of supposed embarrassing content.
However, legitimate cybersecurity experts and organizations confirm that these claims are baseless. No real hacking has occurred; the email is designed to scare you into paying the ransom. Scammers often send these emails in bulk, hoping to catch unsuspecting victims.
The alarming spread of these scams has prompted various government and consumer protection agencies, including the FBI, to issue warnings. These agencies have reported that these scams have been widespread, using similar tactics to exploit individuals’ fears of privacy invasion and public embarrassment.
The fraudulent emails often claim they have recorded sensitive footage and threaten to share it unless you pay. They provide a Bitcoin wallet address for the payment and set a deadline to increase the urgency and pressure.
🚩 Red Flags to Watch Out For:
To protect yourself, be aware of these warning signs of the scam: 🔍🛡️
- 📧 Threats: Unexpected emails that claim they have recorded you through your webcam and demand payment to prevent the release of compromising information.
- 💸 Ransom Demands: The scam includes demands for payment in Bitcoin, claiming it is the only way to prevent the release of the alleged footage.
- ⏳ Urgency and Imposed Deadlines: These emails impose a tight deadline to pressure you into acting hastily, using fear of embarrassment or reputational damage to coerce you into paying immediately.
- 🔄 No Evidence of Hacking: The email provides no real evidence that any hacking has occurred or that any sensitive data exists.
- 👤 Anonymity of the Sender: Scammers use anonymous email addresses and provide untraceable Bitcoin wallet addresses, making it difficult to verify the source.
- 🔗 Suspicious Claims: Be skeptical of any email that makes extraordinary claims about hacking and demands for money.
💡 Never respond to such emails or send money. Additionally, ensure your antivirus software is up to date. If you are concerned, run a virus scan on your device and change your email passwords for safety.
Understanding the ‘Read this email or something terrible will happen’ Email Scam
If you receive an email that says “Read this email or something terrible will happen“, it’s natural to feel shocked 🚨. These emails often start with intimidating statements designed to catch your attention right away. You might wonder, How could this happen? In truth, the sender has not accessed your system; their aim is to scare you into making a rash decision.
These emails feature unfounded threats, claiming to possess recordings or other compromising material that could embarrass you 🎥. The language used is deliberately unclear and threatening, meant to unsettle you: Could this really be happening?
The scammer may allege that they’ve installed advanced malware, such as a Trojan virus, on your device, claiming it allows them to see everything on your screen and access all your contacts 💻. A major indicator that this is a scam is the absence of any solid proof 🚩. They rely on the fear of sophisticated spying tools to intimidate you, not actual hacking skills.
The email usually ends with a request for payment 💰, with the scammer demanding a ransom in Bitcoin due to its anonymity. The scheme is crafted to pressure you into paying quickly. However, sending money does not ensure your safety and may even target you for additional scams.
Upon reading the email, you might wonder, Am I really at risk? or Can this person truly do what they claim? Typically, these threats are mere fabrications; they exploit your fears.
What should you do? It’s recommended not to reply to the scammer or send any money. Focus on fortifying your online security: update your passwords, make sure your devices are secured, and consider reporting to the authorities if the scam includes threats or extortion 🔐. Such incidents highlight the need for vigilance and proactive online security measures.
This scam relies on instilling fear and urgency to trick you. If you receive an email like this, do not interact with the scammer or transfer any money. Simply delete the email. Also, protect your computer with up-to-date anti-virus software, and use strong, unique passwords for all your accounts to help prevent falling victim to such scams.
Examples of such scams
Scammers have developed a variety of tactics to intimidate and exploit unsuspecting individuals. Here are a few common examples:
🔒 Your Private Information has been Stolen Email Scam
Here, the scammer will claim they’ve stolen sensitive information from you and threaten to release it unless you pay a ransom. They rely on the scare factor, hoping you’ll pay to protect your reputation, even though they likely have no data at all.
📹 I RECORDED YOU Email Scam
In this scam, the sender claims to have control over your camera and alleges they have recorded you during private moments. They typically demand payment to keep the footage private. Beware: this is a bluff to get you to pay up out of fear.
💼 I am a professional hacker EMAIL SCAM
Posing as a hacker, the sender of this email might say they’ve infiltrated your system. They may even claim they have proof of embarrassing activity and will publish it unless you send them money. Remember, a real hacker wouldn’t announce their presence—it’s a tactic to pressure you into paying.
Each of these scams plays on fear and urgency to trick you into acting against your best interest. Always approach such emails with skepticism, verify your security, and do not engage with the scammers.
Should you send the money?
No, don’t give the scammer any money. It’s a scam, and giving them money will only encourage them to continue their criminal activities. Plus, if you pay once, they might target you again. To keep your personal information safe, always use strong and unique passwords for each of your accounts, enable two-factor authentication for an extra layer of security, and keep your computer’s antivirus software up to date. If you receive an email like this, it’s important to report it to the authorities and your email provider.
What to Do if You Get This Scam Email
Getting an email that says someone hacked your devices and has compromising information can be scary, but there are easy and safe ways to handle it.
Here’s what to do:
First, stay calm. The email is meant to scare you and make you act without thinking. Remember, it’s just a scam to make you feel afraid.
Don’t pay them. Paying won’t make the problem go away. It only shows the scammer that you are an easy target for future scams.
Don’t reply to the scammer. Responding can give them more information about you and confirm that your email is active, which could lead to more scams.
If the email mentions a password you recognize, check where it came from. Use sites like haveibeenpwned.com to see if your email or passwords have been part of a data breach.
Then, change your passwords. Use strong, unique passwords and set up two-factor authentication where you can.
For safety, run a full security scan on your device. The email’s claims about malware are usually false, but it’s good to make sure your system is clean.
Report the email to the authorities (like the FTC). Reporting helps with investigations and can stop these scams from happening to others.
Finally, tell others. Let your friends, family, and coworkers know about this scam so they can avoid it too. Sharing this information makes everyone safer.
Threat Summary
| Name | Read this email or something terrible will happen Scam |
| Type | Sextortion/Scareware |
| Ransom amount | $1350 (in Bitcoin equivalent) |
| Bitcoin Address | 1E3yQDCaMNe2NjanoM1nJtasUZy6Xkzg6z |
| Fake Claims | Association with hacker groups, access to webcam footage, possession of search history, threat of public exposure |
| Damage | Psychological distress, potential financial loss if ransom is paid, privacy concerns |
| Distribution | Email campaigns targeting individuals with vague accusations of inappropriate online behavior |
| Tactics | Inducing fear, creating urgency with countdowns, threatening public exposure, discouraging reporting to authorities |
| Variations | Different ransom demands, various narrative styles in emails, references to hacker groups |
| Prevention Tips | Use strong, unique passwords; enable two-factor authentication; be skeptical of unsolicited emails; never pay ransoms; maintain updated antivirus software |
| Reporting Info | Forward to the Anti-Phishing Working Group at reportphishing@apwg.org; Report to Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) if in the US; Inform friends and family to prevent spread; Monitor accounts for unusual activity |
Conclusion
The “Read this email or something terrible will happen” email is a typical sextortion scam that uses fear to try to get money from you. The scammer claims they have gained full access to your operating system and accounts through malware installed from a site you visited. They threaten to release compromising videos and information unless you pay a ransom in Bitcoin. Remember, these threats are not real but are designed to scare you into paying.
Bottom Line: Ignore these emails. The best way to protect yourself is to not engage with the sender and to enhance your device security. 🛡️💻
Stay sharp and think critically; an email that triggers fear or promises dire consequences is probably a scam. 🤔
