"Account Compromised - Password Change Required" Sextortion Scam

Recipients of the "Account Compromised - Password Change Required" sextortion email below, which claims they have visited adult websites and threatens to expose them if they do not send money or Bitcoins, are asked to delete them and should not send any money or Bitcoin. This is because the email is being sent by cyber criminals who are attempting to frighten and trick their potential victims into sending them money, or in other words, extort money from them. Almost the email may appear as if it came from your email account, it was not. The cybercriminals used a trick called email spoofing to make the email they have sent appear to have been sent from your account. So, do not be fooled. And, do not follow the instructions in the email.

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Account Compromised - Password Change Required Sextortion Scam

Also, the cybercriminals may have your old password, but it doesn't mean that they have anything on you. It appears they may have gotten your password from the Yahoo or other internet hacks or data breaches that took place a few months or years ago. Yahoo and the companies who suffered the data breach have forced their users to change their passwords, so they should have nothing to worry about.

The "Notification of Underage Pornography Content" Extortion Emails

Account compromised - Password change required

Hey! I compromised your account and gained full access to it. As proof, I just sent this email from your account only (notice the from email address is[email removed]).

Let me tell you exactly how did this happen. You visited a compromised adult website sometime back, and you got infected, and then I observed every action of yours. It gave me access to all of your contacts, browsing history, your passwords, your webcam, and even your microphone.

I noticed you were trying to please yourself by watching one of those nasty videos, well my son, I recorded your actions (thanks to your webcam) and even recorded your screen (the video you were watching). Now, if you do nothing, then I will send this video to all of your email, social media and messenger contacts.

You have the option to prevent me from doing all of this. All you need to do is to make the transfer of $968 to my bitcoin address. If you don't know how to make the transfer, search google for "buy bitcoin." It is quick and easy. Trust me.

My bitcoin address to which you need to transfer is 13tajCGxzJq8sJHFMQsxBwKGEcRdCmwXYu

Once I receive the transfer (i.e payment), I will delete your video and everything I have about you, and you will never hear a word from me again. My malware will also self destruct itself once I get the payment. You have 48 hours to make the payment. As I mentioned earlier, I have full access to your system. Now I know that you have read the email, so your time starts now. If you are thinking about filing a complaint, save your efforts, since it will not result in anything. This email is untraceable, remember it been sent using your account only?

Don't think about sharing this message either because in that case, I will send your video to all of your contacts.

Bye!

To learn more about email spoofing, click here.

Check the comment section below for additional information, share what you know, or ask a question about this article by leaving a comment below. And, to quickly find answers to your questions, use our search Search engine.

Note: Some of the information in samples on this website may have been impersonated or spoofed.

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Comments, Questions, Answers, or Reviews

Comments (Total: 8)

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May 10, 2019 at 3:14 PM by
"Account Compromised - Password Change Required" Sextortion Scam
info

The scammers are using this BTC account: 1Q2yu5awJd1Z3UJVw2VckeGoLs6TfSHFQR

Delete

April 16, 2019 at 2:28 PM by
"Account Compromised - Password Change Required" Sextortion Scam
info

Below is another scam being sent by cybercriminals to trick online users into sending them money but, please DO NOT. Do not be fooled because the email appears as if it is coming your account. It is, your email address was actually spoofed to make it appear so.

- start of fake email -

"Be sure to read this message! Your personal data is threatened!

Tue 4/16/2019 5:59 AM

Hi, stranger!

I know the [password], this is your password.

As you can see, I logged in with your account. And I wrote you this message from your account.

If you have already changed your password, my malware will be intercepts it every time.

You may not know me, and you are most likely wondering why you are receiving this email, right?

In fact, I posted a malicious program on adults (pornography) of some websites, and you know that you visited these websites to enjoy

(you know what I mean).

While you were watching video clips,

my trojan started working as a RDP (remote desktop) with a keylogger that gave me access to your screen as well as a webcam.

Immediately after this, my program gathered all your contacts from messenger, social networks, and also by e-mail.

What I've done?

I made a double screen video.

The first part shows the video you watched (you have good taste, yes ... but strange for me and other normal people),

and the second part shows the recording of your webcam.

What should you do?

Well, I think $732 (USD dollars) is a fair price for our little secret.

You will make a bitcoin payment (if you don't know, look for "how to buy bitcoins" on Google).

BTC Address: 1Q2yu5awJd1Z3UJVw2VckeGoLs6TfSHFQR

(This is CASE sensitive, please copy and paste it)

Remarks:

You have 2 days (48 hours) to pay. (I have a special code, and at the moment I know that you have read this email).

If I don't get bitcoins, I will send your video to all your contacts, including family members, colleagues, etc.

However, if I am paid, I will immediately destroy the video, and my trojan will be destruct someself.

If you want to get proof, answer "Yes!" and resend this letter to youself.

And I will definitely send your video to your any 15 contacts.

This is a non-negotiable offer, so please do not waste my personal and other people's time by replying to this email.

Bye!"

- end of fake email -

Delete

April 8, 2019 at 9:23 PM by
"Account Compromised - Password Change Required" Sextortion Scam
info

The criminals are usings these Bitcoin accounts:

1JCBEAd49tdYtKZKqoLCftfgujqum6L4aM

14tfS3yWL2cABhXVJZ97XRhuDXC69aWH6Y

1MxCjB1MJjqXwT8exG1tXBDkgrjc6kSjwW

1HNaDdKdmT2ePZSNwBj69px5UjPsWDq7M5

1EuUnZbqa4Wojzc3dAw9wowCoBwkkXHgdi

Delete

April 6, 2019 at 2:42 PM by
"Account Compromised - Password Change Required" Sextortion Scam
info

The cyber criminals are using these Bitcoin accounts:

12is8FD6Tx5QaLAosjh1KpwL1RDkhEwHC5

18cmvU7QoqDc8YKyyVnG2FU96qBtJZUCrr

Delete

April 6, 2019 at 2:42 PM by
"Account Compromised - Password Change Required" Sextortion Scam
info

Here is another scam:

"From: regascon@up.edu.ph

Date: 2 April 2019 at 3:17:12 PM GMT 8

To: <regascon@up.edu.ph>

Subject: Account compromised - Password change required (regascon@up.edu.ph)

Hey! I compromised your account and gained full access to it. As proof, I just sent this email from your account only (notice the from email address is regascon@up.edu.ph).

Let me tell you exactly how did this happen. You visited a compromised adult website sometime back, and you got infected, and then I observed every action of yours. It gave me access to all of your contacts, browsing history, your passwords, your webcam, and even your microphone.

I noticed you were trying to please yourself by watching one of those nasty videos, well my son, I recorded your actions (thanks to your webcam) and even recorded your screen (the video you were watching). Now, if you do nothing, then I will send this video to all of your email, social media and messenger contacts.

You have the option to prevent me from doing all of this. All you need to do is to make the transfer of $985 to my bitcoin address. If you don't know how to make the transfer, search google for "buy bitcoin." It is quick and easy. Trust me.

My bitcoin address to which you need to transfer is 18cmvU7QoqDc8YKyyVnG2FU96qBtJZUCrr

Once I receive the transfer (i.e payment), I will delete your video and everything I have about you, and you will never hear a word from me again. My malware will also self destruct itself once I get the payment. You have 48 hours to make the payment. As I mentioned earlier, I have full access to your system. Now I know that you have read the email, so your time starts now. If you are thinking about filing a complaint, save your efforts, since it will not result in anything. This email is untraceable, remember it been sent using your account only?

Don't think about sharing this message either because in that case, I will send your video to all of your contacts.

Bye!"

Delete

April 4, 2019 at 12:36 PM by
"Account Compromised - Password Change Required" Sextortion Scam
info

The scammers are using this BTC account: 16YkABmMCyK3UzhSV6Zt9h61kqU5KNUPe

Delete

April 4, 2019 at 6:34 AM by
"Account Compromised - Password Change Required" Sextortion Scam
info

They are also using the following:

12KTQobrHzd5CZXqqSM5GwXsyo5DE9X6Zm

19C8vfkoNG4VW4bJnp73xPWrddPZEdPqrz

Delete

April 4, 2019 at 6:21 AM by
"Account Compromised - Password Change Required" Sextortion Scam
info

The cybercriminals are using the following Bitcoin accounts:

19ZqyRME2EET1YX2ZWhiVoeeejdNAVPNzx

199rk9FyugLJ1QPNn6GK25QcBb7YC1ZM7n

1nEPcygJtERwdbyWcAWwENn9v866M2941

15a4KNHb27iFDnwjWdTQ1QwEhewt4B2cA1

1Ef5T5tJcBVm6qDFRxPFfdAnKhRJk16Vd2

1LZEr179WLGW41aFy57urFPcMm1HhpBJu9

1BYzErbsdaE954PJJz31iwqM9mKFmCdda4

1JeARV4JzjF4aTS1J3Q7DX2h4K1xX8kaJv

1Pr1Rhqvmz2m59DJQ7phs1bBP8iXFZ76bY

Delete

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Online Threat Alerts Security Tips

Pay the safest way

Credit cards are the safest way to pay for online purchases because you can dispute the charges if you never get the goods or services or if the offer was misrepresented. Federal law limits your liability to $50 if someone makes unauthorized charges to your account, and most credit card issuers will remove them completely if you report the problem promptly.

Guard your personal information

In any transaction you conduct, make sure to check with your state or local consumer protection agency and the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to see if the seller, charity, company, or organization is credible. Be especially wary if the entity is unfamiliar to you. Always call the number found on a website’s contact information to make sure the number legitimately belongs to the entity you are dealing with.

Be careful of the information you share

Never give out your codes, passwords or personal information, unless you are sure of who you're dealing with

Know who you’re dealing with

Crooks pretending to be from companies you do business with may call or send an email, claiming they need to verify your personal information. Don’t provide your credit card or bank account number unless you are actually paying for something and know who you are sending payment to. Your social security number should not be necessary unless you are applying for credit. Be especially suspicious if someone claiming to be from a company with whom you have an account asks for information that the business already has.

Check your accounts

Regularly check your account transactions and report any suspicious or unauthorised transactions.

Don’t believe promises of easy money

If someone claims that you can earn money with little or no work, get a loan or credit card even if you have bad credit, or make money on an investment with little or no risk, it’s probably a scam. Oftentimes, offers that seem too good to be true, actually are too good to be true.

Do not open email from people you don’t know

If you are unsure whether an email you received is legitimate, try contacting the sender directly via other means. Do not click on any links in an email unless you are sure it is safe.

Think before you click

If an email or text message looks suspicious, don’t open any attachments or click on the links.

Verify urgent requests or unsolicited emails, messages or phone calls before you respond

If you receive a message or a phone call asking for immediate action and don't know the sender, it could be a phishing message.

Be careful with links and new website addresses

Malicious website addresses may appear almost identical to legitimate sites. Scammers often use a slight variation in spelling or logo to lure you. Malicious links can also come from friends whose email has unknowingly been compromised, so be careful.

Secure your personal information

Before providing any personal information, such as your date of birth, Social Security number, account numbers, and passwords, be sure the website is secure.

Stay informed on the latest cyber threats

Keep yourself up to date on current scams by visiting this website daily.

Use Strong Passwords

Strong passwords are critical to online security.

Keep your software up to date and maintain preventative software programs

Keep all of your software applications up to date on your computers and mobile devices. Install software that provides antivirus, firewall, and email filter services.

Update the operating systems on your electronic devices

Make sure your operating systems (OSs) and applications are up to date on all of your electronic devices. Older and unpatched versions of OSs and software are the target of many hacks. Read the CISA security tip on Understanding Patches and Software Updates for more information.

What if You Got Scammed?

Stop Contact With The Scammer

Hang up the phone. Do not reply to emails, messages, or letters that the scammer sends. Do not make any more payments to the scammer. Beware of additional scammers who may contact you claiming they can help you get your lost money back.

Secure Your Finances

  • Report potentially compromised bank account, credit or debit card information to your financial institution(s) immediately. They may be able to cancel or reverse fraudulent transactions.
  • Notify the three major credit bureaus. They can add a fraud alert to warn potential credit grantors that you may be a victim of identity theft. You may also want to consider placing a free security freeze on your credit report. Doing so prevents lenders and others from accessing your credit report entirely, which will prevent them from extending credit:

Check Your Computer

If your computer was accessed or otherwise affected by a scam, check to make sure that your anti-virus is up-to-date and running and that your system is free of malware and keylogging software. You may also need to seek the help of a computer repair company. Consider utilizing the Better Business Bureau’s website to find a reputable company.

Change Your Account Passwords

Update your bank, credit card, social media, and email account passwords to try to limit further unauthorized access. Make sure to choose strong passwords when changing account passwords.

Report The Scam

Reporting helps protect others. While agencies can’t always track down perpetrators of crimes against scammers, they can utilize the information gathered to record patterns of abuse which may lead to action being taken against a company or industry.

Report your issue to the following agencies based on the nature of the scam:

  • Local Law Enforcement: Consumers are encouraged to report scams to their local police department or sheriff’s office, especially if you lost money or property or had your identity compromised.
  • Federal Trade Commission: Contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357) or use the Online Complaint Assistant to report various types of fraud, including counterfeit checks, lottery or sweepstakes scams, and more.
  • Identitytheft.gov: If someone is using your personal information, like your Social Security, credit card, or bank account number, to open new accounts, make purchases, or get a tax refund, report it at www.identitytheft.gov. This federal government site will also help you create your Identity Theft Report and a personal recovery plan based on your situation. Questions can be directed to 877-ID THEFT.

How To Recognize a Phishing Scam

Scammers use email or text messages to try to steal your passwords, account numbers, or Social Security numbers. If they get that information, they could get access to your email, bank, or other accounts. Or they could sell your information to other scammers. Scammers launch thousands of phishing attacks like these every day — and they’re often successful.

Scammers often update their tactics to keep up with the latest news or trends, but here are some common tactics used in phishing emails or text messages:

Phishing emails and text messages often tell a story to trick you into clicking on a link or opening an attachment. You might get an unexpected email or text message that looks like it’s from a company you know or trust, like a bank or a credit card or utility company. Or maybe it’s from an online payment website or app. The message could be from a scammer, who might

  • say they’ve noticed some suspicious activity or log-in attempts — they haven’t
  • claim there’s a problem with your account or your payment information — there isn’t
  • say you need to confirm some personal or financial information — you don’t
  • include an invoice you don’t recognize — it’s fake
  • want you to click on a link to make a payment — but the link has malware
  • say you’re eligible to register for a government refund — it’s a scam
  • offer a coupon for free stuff — it’s not real

About Online Threat Alerts (OTA)

Online Threat Alerts or OTA is an anti-cybercrime community that started in 2012. OTA alerts the public to cyber crimes and other web threats.

By alerting the public, we have prevented a lot of online users from getting scammed or becoming victims of cybercrimes.

With the ever-increasing number of people going online, it important to have a community like OTA that continuously alerts or protects those same people from cyber-criminals, scammers and hackers, who are every day finding new ways of carrying out their malicious activities.

Online users can help by reporting suspicious or malicious messages or websites to OTA. And, if they want to determine if a message or website is a threat or scam, they can use OTA's search engine to search for the website or parts of the message for information.

Help maintain Online Threat Alerts (OTA).

"Account Compromised - Password Change Required" Sextortion Scam