Spam email or real?

cutman1000

Member
SoSH Member
Aug 26, 2003
3,568
South Carolina/New Zealand
I have friends from New Zealand staying with me, and one of them just received the following email (from his own email address):

*********************

Hello!

My nickname in darknet is ramon96.
I hacked this mailbox more than six months ago,
through it I infected your operating system with a virus (trojan) created by me and have been monitoring you for a long time.

So, your password from md.am.***********@xtra.co.nz is ************

Even if you changed the password after that - it does not matter, my virus intercepted all the caching data on your computer
and automatically saved access for me.

I have access to all your accounts, social networks, email, browsing history.
Accordingly, I have the data of all your contacts, files from your computer, photos and videos.

I was most struck by the intimate content sites that you occasionally visit.
You have a very wild imagination, I tell you!

During your pastime and entertainment there, I took screenshot through the camera of your device, synchronizing with what you are watching.
Oh my god! You are so funny and excited!

I think that you do not want all your contacts to get these files, right?
If you are of the same opinion, then I think that $860 is quite a fair price to destroy the dirt I created.

Send the above amount on my BTC wallet (bitcoin): 1FHPbKHcSx9CaXJzDpLoXG733ipQ77UNx9
As soon as the above amount is received, I guarantee that the data will be deleted, I do not need it.

Otherwise, these files and history of visiting sites will get all your contacts from your device.
Also, I'll send to everyone your contact access to your email and access logs, I have carefully saved it!

Since reading this letter you have 48 hours!
After your reading this message, I'll receive an automatic notification that you have seen the letter.

I hope I taught you a good lesson.
Do not be so nonchalant, please visit only to proven resources, and don't enter your passwords anywhere!
Good luck!

*************

So, I’m not sure if he has been looking at weird porn sites, but I gather that the sender does have his login and password.

He has asked me for advice and I have no clue what to tell him. My gut feeling is to ignore it...

Any advice?
 

Time to Mo Vaughn

RIP Dernell
SoSH Member
Mar 24, 2008
7,180
This is a pretty common e-mail/blackmail recent tactic.

https://krebsonsecurity.com/2018/07/sextortion-scam-uses-recipients-hacked-passwords/

Generally it's a result of scraping leaks from high profile password breaches that have been posted publicly and to paste bin and such, they then send those usernames and passwords to victim to try and make them thing they have more than they really do. If you google sextortion scam, you'll see a lot of hits on this, but he should almost certainly ignore it. If they really had screenshots they would have sent them with it.
 

drbretto

Member
SoSH Member
Apr 10, 2009
12,054
Concord, NH
With the exception of the email address and passwords, every line in that has no idea who the recipient is. If it was remotely real, they'd have more specifics. They're relying on the email and password info to get you to believe the rest.

I just got a credit alert saying my email and password was breached myself (as a credit alert, not a scam). They have my email address and password from hacking sites that I've been to that use them. AFAIK, that's all they have, and that's probably all they have on you, too. Change those passwords and you will be ok.
 

johnmd20

mad dog
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Dec 30, 2003
61,978
New York City
"You have a wild imagination, I tell you," really gives this entire thing away.

If they did have compromising info on intimate sites, they would undoubtedly be like, "And those German shizer videos are really fucked up, dude, and you do not want anyone knowing about them. I will send screenshots to your boss and wife unless you pay me."
 

Noseminer

New Member
Jun 17, 2018
77
"Even if you changed the password after that - it does not matter, my virus intercepted all the caching data on your computer
and automatically saved access for me."

Another giveaway. If he knew you had changed the password, he most certainly would say "On such and such a date at such and such time you changed them to whatever and whatever" He only has those passwords and nothing else. If i was going to blackmail somebody, I certainly wouldn't leave ANY doubt as to how much info I really had. It's a scare tactic that unfortunately a lot of people fall for. As drbretto above stated, just change the passwords and ignore it.
 

Hendu for Kutch

Member
SoSH Member
Apr 7, 2006
6,917
Nashua, NH
The first time I got one of those, with a password I sometimes use in the subject line it freaked me the hell out. Just seeing that password right in my face from someone with obvious ill intent spooked the shit out of me. So I get why your friend would initially be worked up about it.

Even though googling confirmed it was bullshit, I still took the liberty of sharing the email on Facebook and letting people know that if they didn't want to get the video, they'd better pay the guy.
 

Saints Rest

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
The first time I got one of those, with a password I sometimes use in the subject line it freaked me the hell out. Just seeing that password right in my face from someone with obvious ill intent spooked the shit out of me. So I get why your friend would initially be worked up about it.

Even though googling confirmed it was bullshit, I still took the liberty of sharing the email on Facebook and letting people know that if they didn't want to get the video, they'd better pay the guy.
+1. Pretty much exactly my response.
 

Noseminer

New Member
Jun 17, 2018
77
The first time I got one of those, with a password I sometimes use in the subject line it freaked me the hell out. Just seeing that password right in my face from someone with obvious ill intent spooked the shit out of me. So I get why your friend would initially be worked up about it.

Even though googling confirmed it was bullshit, I still took the liberty of sharing the email on Facebook and letting people know that if they didn't want to get the video, they'd better pay the guy.
And you also better let them know to expect more scams. Once an easy target, ALWAYS an easy target. He will let his circle know that such and such pays up. They will also target the same person with other scams. Do you know why I never "unsubscribe" to unsolicited emails and why i tell others to also never respond? That's exactly what they want you to do. Sure. They will unsubscribe you from their own list, but they will also sell your email address to everyone else. Why? Because now they know it's a valid, working email address. Same thing applies here. NEVER pay. Ever. Don't want the whole world to know you snap your carrot watching porn? Uh. Pretty much everyone knows that because pretty much everyone has or does the same thing. And if you have a lot to lose by people finding out certain things, maybe be careful what you do on the internet. There is no such thing as privacy on the internet. People can get info easily from the net. Sometimes a LOT of info. I never use facebook or twitter or anything.. It amazes me how much info people are giving others on social media without even knowing it. Don't post pictures of yourself ever. I worked as a skip tracer for a while. With nothing more than a screen name sometimes, in two days, give or take, I had their names, address, email, etc. With only a screen name. Tell your friend to ignore it, and to let his local law enforcement know about it.
 

Hendu for Kutch

Member
SoSH Member
Apr 7, 2006
6,917
Nashua, NH
And you also better let them know to expect more scams. Once an easy target, ALWAYS an easy target. He will let his circle know that such and such pays up. They will also target the same person with other scams. Do you know why I never "unsubscribe" to unsolicited emails and why i tell others to also never respond? That's exactly what they want you to do. Sure. They will unsubscribe you from their own list, but they will also sell your email address to everyone else. Why? Because now they know it's a valid, working email address. Same thing applies here. NEVER pay. Ever. Don't want the whole world to know you snap your carrot watching porn? Uh. Pretty much everyone knows that because pretty much everyone has or does the same thing. And if you have a lot to lose by people finding out certain things, maybe be careful what you do on the internet. There is no such thing as privacy on the internet. People can get info easily from the net. Sometimes a LOT of info. I never use facebook or twitter or anything.. It amazes me how much info people are giving others on social media without even knowing it. Don't post pictures of yourself ever. I worked as a skip tracer for a while. With nothing more than a screen name sometimes, in two days, give or take, I had their names, address, email, etc. With only a screen name. Tell your friend to ignore it, and to let his local law enforcement know about it.
I may be misreading you, but I think you misread me. I sent it as a joke to my Facebook list that if they didn't pay up, they were going to get sent my video. I never responded or acknowledged the people who sent it.
 

Noseminer

New Member
Jun 17, 2018
77
I may be misreading you, but I think you misread me. I sent it as a joke to my Facebook list that if they didn't pay up, they were going to get sent my video. I never responded or acknowledged the people who sent it.
You are correct. I indeed misread you. My apologies.
 
Last edited:

Noseminer

New Member
Jun 17, 2018
77
Not unsubscribing is a good move when talking about spam email, but if it is from a legit site that you once did business with and don’t want more mail from, unsubscribing is the right move
I agree. Which is why I specifically said "unsolicited" emails.
 

InsideTheParker

persists in error
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
40,359
Pioneer Valley
I have now gotten this twice in my spam folder, along with a handy introduction to bitcoin. The funny part is that I haven't gone to the kinds of sites mentioned, so I don't feel the shame requisite to making this scam work. It is helpful to find this thread and feel less alone.
Still, I find it annoying. But I guess it's far from the worst thing that this technology has wrought.
 

edoug

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
6,007
Woohoo, I won myself a BMW.
BMW LOTTERY DEPARTMENT WISCONSINS UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
300 Chestnut Ridge Rd, Woodcliff Lake, NJ 07677, United States
Email: a o l . com (BMW Lottery)

Congrats For Your Winning !!!
This is to inform you that you have been selected for a prize of
abrand new 2020 Model BMW X6 m Series and a Check of $3,500,000.00
United States Dollars from international programs held on the 1st
section 2021 in the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

The selection process was carried out through random selection in our
computerized email selection system (ESS) from a database of over
250,000 email addresses drawn from all the continents of the world
which you were selected.

The BMW Lottery is approved by the British Gaming Board and also
licensed by the International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR).

To begin the processing of your prize you are to contact our fiduciary
claims department for more information as regards to claim your prize.
Lawyer In charge name : Attorney Eric Campbell CONTACT VIA EMAIL:
(a o l . c o m) Email him with your secret pin code Number
BMWP/223002219911.

You are also advised to provide him with the under listed information
as soon as possible:

1. Name in full__________2.
Address.___________3.Nationality._________4. Age._________5.
Occupation.___________6. Phone/Fax.__________ 7. Present
Country.__________8. pin code Number BMWP/223002219911

Thanks for your cooperation.
Mr.Larry Gordon
Oh wait it's a 2020 model. That's bullspit, screw it.
 

soxhop411

news aggravator
SoSH Member
Dec 4, 2009
46,200
Back during the Obama administration I revived this totally legitime email from none other than Michelle Obama

@edoug
 

Bowhemian

Member
SoSH Member
Nov 10, 2015
5,675
Bow, NH
Woohoo, I won myself a BMW.
BMW LOTTERY DEPARTMENT WISCONSINS UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
300 Chestnut Ridge Rd, Woodcliff Lake, NJ 07677, United States
Email: a o l . com (BMW Lottery)

Congrats For Your Winning !!!
This is to inform you that you have been selected for a prize of
abrand new 2020 Model BMW X6 m Series and a Check of $3,500,000.00
United States Dollars from international programs held on the 1st
section 2021 in the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

The selection process was carried out through random selection in our
computerized email selection system (ESS) from a database of over
250,000 email addresses drawn from all the continents of the world
which you were selected.

The BMW Lottery is approved by the British Gaming Board and also
licensed by the International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR).

To begin the processing of your prize you are to contact our fiduciary
claims department for more information as regards to claim your prize.
Lawyer In charge name : Attorney Eric Campbell CONTACT VIA EMAIL:
(a o l . c o m) Email him with your secret pin code Number
BMWP/223002219911.

You are also advised to provide him with the under listed information
as soon as possible:

1. Name in full__________2.
Address.___________3.Nationality._________4. Age._________5.
Occupation.___________6. Phone/Fax.__________ 7. Present
Country.__________8. pin code Number BMWP/223002219911

Thanks for your cooperation.
Mr.Larry Gordon
Oh wait it's a 2020 model. That's bullspit, screw it.
Back during the Obama administration I revived this totally legitime email from none other than Michelle Obama

@edoug
It is hard to believe that people actually fall for these scams. The grammar is obviously horrific. So in the Obama email, the check will be delivered by Barack Obama by a delivery agent James Boomberg. So who is going to bring me the money, Obama or Boomberg? I do wonder how many people tried to text Obama?

I think it would be fun to buy a burner phone and send a text to that number and just say "Thanks, Obama" just to see what happens.
 

Ferm Sheller

Member
SoSH Member
Mar 5, 2007
20,360
It is hard to believe that people actually fall for these scams. The grammar is obviously horrific. So in the Obama email, the check will be delivered by Barack Obama by a delivery agent James Boomberg. So who is going to bring me the money, Obama or Boomberg? I do wonder how many people tried to text Obama?

I think it would be fun to buy a burner phone and send a text to that number and just say "Thanks, Obama" just to see what happens.
It has been my experience that Obama brings the money, save for that one time that he was sick and had Boomberg deliver it.
 

soxhop411

news aggravator
SoSH Member
Dec 4, 2009
46,200
It is hard to believe that people actually fall for these scams. The grammar is obviously horrific. So in the Obama email, the check will be delivered by Barack Obama by a delivery agent James Boomberg. So who is going to bring me the money, Obama or Boomberg? I do wonder how many people tried to text Obama?

I think it would be fun to buy a burner phone and send a text to that number and just say "Thanks, Obama" just to see what happens.
Also. Michelle somehow has the same middle name as her husband.
 

Kliq

Member
SoSH Member
Mar 31, 2013
22,622
Woohoo, I won myself a BMW.
BMW LOTTERY DEPARTMENT WISCONSINS UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
300 Chestnut Ridge Rd, Woodcliff Lake, NJ 07677, United States
Email: a o l . com (BMW Lottery)

Congrats For Your Winning !!!
This is to inform you that you have been selected for a prize of
abrand new 2020 Model BMW X6 m Series and a Check of $3,500,000.00
United States Dollars from international programs held on the 1st
section 2021 in the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

The selection process was carried out through random selection in our
computerized email selection system (ESS) from a database of over
250,000 email addresses drawn from all the continents of the world
which you were selected.

The BMW Lottery is approved by the British Gaming Board and also
licensed by the International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR).

To begin the processing of your prize you are to contact our fiduciary
claims department for more information as regards to claim your prize.
Lawyer In charge name : Attorney Eric Campbell CONTACT VIA EMAIL:
(a o l . c o m) Email him with your secret pin code Number
BMWP/223002219911.

You are also advised to provide him with the under listed information
as soon as possible:

1. Name in full__________2.
Address.___________3.Nationality._________4. Age._________5.
Occupation.___________6. Phone/Fax.__________ 7. Present
Country.__________8. pin code Number BMWP/223002219911

Thanks for your cooperation.
Mr.Larry Gordon
Oh wait it's a 2020 model. That's bullspit, screw it.
And $3.5 million. And not just any $3.5 million in some kind of monopoly money, in UNITED STATES DOLLARS. Congratulations Doug, I hope you will remember all of us here on SoSH as you start your new life.
 

edoug

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
6,007
And $3.5 million. And not just any $3.5 million in some kind of monopoly money, in UNITED STATES DOLLARS. Congratulations Doug, I hope you will remember all of us here on SoSH as you start your new life.
"21 MLB All Star uniforms for everybody. All game worn by Lance Lynn.
 

soxhop411

news aggravator
SoSH Member
Dec 4, 2009
46,200
though the sad thing is, I bet that email will actually fool some people, even though it seems like it was written in some unknown language
 

drbretto

Member
SoSH Member
Apr 10, 2009
12,054
Concord, NH
I wonder if they do that on purpose to get through spam detection. If so, that's clever. I'm probably giving way too much credit.
 

Kliq

Member
SoSH Member
Mar 31, 2013
22,622
Scammers intentionally make their scams so obvious so that they want to attract only the dumbest people to actually engage with them and pass over their valuable information. If a normal person called or emailed the scammers, they would be able to tell pretty quickly that it was a scam and hang up, which wastes the scammers time. If the scam is so obvious that it could only trick the very dumbest people into calling, it would be more efficient from the scammers POV.