Blackmailers demand Bitcoin: What's behind these emails?
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Cybercriminals are once again flooding inboxes with threatening emails claiming they have hacked victims' webcams and recorded embarrassing videos. The scammers demand payment in Bitcoin, but cybersecurity experts say the messages are designed to spread fear rather than reflect a real security breach.
The emails typically claim that hackers secretly accessed the recipient's computer or webcam while they were viewing adult content. Victims are warned that unless they transfer a specified amount of Bitcoin within a few days, the alleged recordings will be sent to friends, family members, and colleagues. The messages often include alarming subject lines such as "Account," "Security," or "Video" to encourage recipients to open them.
According to the Verbraucherzentrale NRW (North Rhine-Westphalia Consumer Advice Centre), similar extortion emails have been circulating since 2019 and continue to appear despite repeated warnings. Some versions even claim to have been sent from the victim's own email account, attempting to convince recipients that their devices or mailboxes have already been compromised. Experts say these tactics are intended to create panic and pressure victims into paying without verifying the claims.
Cybersecurity specialist Prof. Dr. Dennis-Kenji Kipker explains that these campaigns follow a predictable pattern and rely on psychological manipulation rather than genuine hacking. In most cases, the criminals have no access to a victim's webcam or computer. Instead, they send identical messages to thousands of people, hoping that fear and embarrassment will persuade some recipients to transfer Bitcoin.
Experts advise anyone receiving such an email not to send money or respond to the sender. Instead, the message should be marked as spam or phishing and deleted. If the email contains an old or current password, users should immediately change that password and update any other accounts where the same credentials were used. Enabling two-factor authentication is also recommended to strengthen account security.