From the WhatsApp Gold scam to the “hi mom” text message scam, it seems cybercriminals will try almost anything to get us to part with our money.
And his latest tactic is possibly the most brazen yet.
A new email scam has emerged in which fraudsters claim to have been watching you via your webcam and threaten to publish the footage unless you pay up.
The email usually begins with “Hello perv” and often appears to come from your own email address.
Here are all the key signs that it’s a scam and what to do if you receive one.
A new email scam has emerged in which fraudsters claim to have been watching you via your webcam and threaten to publish the footage unless you pay up (stock image)
The email usually says something like: ‘Hi perv.
‘I sent this message to you from your Microsoft account.
‘I want to inform you about a very bad situation for you.
“However, you can benefit from it, if you act wisely.”
The message goes on to claim that the sender has recorded images of him via his webcam, with some versions claiming that these show him watching pornography or masturbating.
To prevent the sender from sharing this alleged material with everyone on your email contact list, you will be asked to pay him within a set time frame.
The email usually says something like, “Hey perv. I sent this message to you from your Microsoft account.”
“Do not consider yourself an innocent victim,” reads one fraudulent email seen by MailOnline.
“No one knows where your perversion may take you in the future, so consider this some sort of deserved punishment to stop you.”
Some scammers will mention Pegaus, a powerful spyware developed by Israeli cyberweapons company NSO Group, in the hopes of appearing more threatening.
Others will include one of your old or inactive passwords, obtained from a previous data breach.
And when they have access to it, some scammers will include your physical address or even a photo of your personal neighborhood.
There’s no denying that receiving these emails is horrible and has left many social media users in shock.
On Reddit, one user wrote: “I was really freaked out because the message was sent from my own email address and yet it was reported as spam.”
Another added: “I got this email a couple of days ago and it’s really freaking me out.”
The message claims that the sender has recorded webcam footage of you, with some versions claiming that these show you watching pornography or masturbating (stock image)
And on Twitter, one person wrote: “Did anyone get my sexy videos? I’ll give them some credit, it’s so creepy.”
According to cybersecurity experts at Malwarebytes, the worst thing you can do if you receive the “hello perv” email is to reply.
“First and foremost, never respond to emails like this,” he advised.
‘It may indicate to the sender that someone is reading emails sent to that address and will repeatedly try new and different methods to defraud them.’
If the email includes one of your passwords, make sure you no longer use it and, if you do, change it immediately, Malwarebytes advises.
It’s also important not to click on any unsolicited attachments, which could inadvertently install malware on your device.
Finally, don’t panic.
“Don’t be hasty when it comes to acting or making decisions. Scammers rely on the fact that you won’t take the time to think things through and will consequently make mistakes,” Malwarebytes warns.
For added peace of mind, you may also want to turn off your webcam or purchase a cover.