Blackmail Scam Uses Passwords to Scare People into Paying Bitcoin

Several friends and professional contacts phoned me in a state of panic this summer saying they had received emails from a shady entity claiming to have hacked their computer webcams while they were viewing adult websites. The interlopers threatened to send video clips of these folks doing—well, you can guess—to all of their contacts unless they paid a ransom.

Should they pay? Should they torch their electronics? How does one acquire $1,900 in Bitcoin?

Normally, one might ignore the demands of a random stranger making outrageous claims on the Internet. But these messages bore a troubling bit of information, something that instantly set their targets on edge. “I am aware, [redacted], is your pass word,” the notes began, accurately.

Imagine finding this in your inbox. Subject line: “[your name] – [one of your passwords].” Try not to snap to attention.

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