Pegasus Email Scam - Sextortion and Bitcoin

If you have received the "Pegasus Email" scam below, please do not follow the instructions in it. This is because it is another sextortion email being used by scammers to trick their potential victims into sending them Bitcoins. The fake email claims it has collected information about the potential victims' private lives, which can be used against them, but this is not true. It is only a lie used to frighten and trick potential victims into sending Bitcoins to the scammers behind the fake email. This is an old scam that has been around for a few years now, and every year the scammers change the message in the email scam and resend it to potential victims.

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Pegasus Email Scam - Sextortion and Bitcoin

The Pegasus Email Scam

The Pegasus Email Scam

Hello, I’m going to share important information with you.

Have you heard about Pegasus?

You have become a collateral victim. It’s very important that you read the information below.

Your phone was penetrated with a “zero-click” attack, meaning you didn’t even need to click on a malicious link for your phone to be infected.

Pegasus is a malware that infects iPhones and Android devices and enables operator of the tool to extract messages, photos and emails, record calls and secretly activate cameras or microphones, and read the contents of encrypted messaging apps such as WhatsApp, Facebook, Telegram and Signal.

Basically, it can spy on every aspect of your life. That’s precisely what it did.

I am a blackhat hacker and do this for a living. Unfortunately you are my victim. Please read on.

As you understand, I have used the malware capabilities to spy on you.

And by that I mean that I have collected your parts of your private life.

My only goal is to make money. And I have perfect leverage for this.

As you can imagine in your worst dream, I have videos of you exposed during the most private moments of your life, when you are not expecting it.

I personally have no interest in them, but there are public websites, that have perverts loving that content.

As I said, I only do this to make money and not trying to destroy your life. But if necessary, I will publish the videos.

If this is not enough for you, I will make sure your contacts, friends and everybody you know see those videos as well.

Here is the deal. I will delete the files after I receive 0.035 Bitcoin (about 1600 US Dollars).

You need to send that amount here 12mojuzVPeSh2 6qmA9GLJFADo4chgGbtj3

I will also clear your device from malware, and you keep living your life.

Otherwise, shit will happen.

The fee is non negotiable, to be transferred within 2 business days.

Obviously do not try to ask for any help from anybody unless you want your privacy to be violated.

I will monitor your every move until I get paid. If you keep your end of the agreement, you wont hear from me ever again.

Take care.

Remember, the Pegasus Email Scam is only an attempt by scammers to frighten and trick their potential victims into sending them money, or in other words, extort money from them. So, let us not be a victim in 2021. If you receive threatening emails asking you to make payment via Bitcoins or other cryptocurrencies, just ignore and delete them.

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: 6)

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September 25, 2024 at 12:44 PM by
Pegasus Email Scam - Sextortion and Bitcoin
an anonymous user from: Helsinki, South Finland, Finland

ARE YOU A VICTIM OF INVESTMENT OR NFT SCAM? DO YOU WANT TO INVESTIGATE A CHEATING SPOUSE? DO YOU DESIRE CREDIT REPAIR (ALL BUREAUS)? SCHEDULE A MEETING WITH AN ETHICAL HACKER TO GET STARTED. JAMES is a private investigator and funds recovery genius. Who specialize in cases regarding HACKING, CRYPTOCURRENCY RECOVERIES, FAKE INVESTMENT SCHEMES. They are also experts in CREDIT REPAIR and also analyze what’s impacting your score. All software tools needed to execute RECOVERIES from start to finish are available in stock. Be ALERT to FALSE reviews and testimonies on the internet, Contact JAMESMCKAYWIZARD & team as soon as you can via the email address below jamesmckaywizard at gmail dot com or WhatsApp 31622647750.

Delete

August 22, 2021 at 7:57 AM by
Pegasus Email Scam - Sextortion and Bitcoin
an anonymous user from: Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, Hong Kong

Same here. I'm definitely going to ignore it, but does it mean my phone is really hacked since they used my own email address? Is there anything to do about this?

Delete

August 19, 2021 at 11:05 AM by
Pegasus Email Scam - Sextortion and Bitcoin
an anonymous user from: Downtown, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

me too. got it this morning

Delete

August 19, 2021 at 8:04 AM by
Pegasus Email Scam - Sextortion and Bitcoin
an anonymous user from: Connaught Place, New Delhi, Delhi, India

I also received the same mail yesterday

Delete

August 19, 2021 at 2:00 AM by
Pegasus Email Scam - Sextortion and Bitcoin
an anonymous user from: Brisbane City, South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

I got this email today and knew it was a scam, but the weird thing is they used my own email address to send me the email, is this normal?

Delete

August 19, 2021 at 4:12 AM by
Pegasus Email Scam - Sextortion and Bitcoin
an anonymous user from: Fourth District NCR, Makati, National Capital Region, Philippines

Same. Received it today and in my work email.

Delete

August 19, 2021 at 7:33 AM by
Pegasus Email Scam - Sextortion and Bitcoin
an anonymous user from: E2, London, England, United Kingdom

Yes same here -

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).

Pegasus Email Scam - Sextortion and Bitcoin