How to Respond to Threatening or Blackmail Emails
If you receive an email claiming to have compromised your account, device, or personal information—or demanding payment (often in cryptocurrency)—do not panic. These messages are very common and are usually part of large-scale scams sent to thousands of people at once.
How to Recognize These Messages
- Claims that your device was hacked or recorded without your knowledge
- Demands for payment to prevent release of information
- Use of urgency or threats to create fear
- Sometimes includes a password (often from an old data breach) to appear credible
Important: In most cases, these are mass-produced scam emails, not targeted attacks.
What You Should Do
1) Do NOT Respond or Pay
- Do not reply to the sender or engage in any way
- Do not send money or cryptocurrency
- Paying does not guarantee anything and may lead to further demands
2) Understand This Is Likely a Mass Scam
- These emails are sent in bulk to many recipients worldwide
- Similar examples can often be found online (e.g., forums, Reddit, or security blogs), sometimes dating back years
- Seeing identical messages reported by others can help confirm that you are not being personally targeted
3) Secure Your Accounts
- Change your passwords, especially if:
- The email included one of your passwords
- You reuse passwords across multiple sites
- Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) wherever possible
- Use a unique password for every account (consider a password manager)
4) Scan Your Devices
- Run antivirus/antimalware scans on your computer and devices
- Ensure your operating system and software are fully updated
- For School of Education devices, contact MERIT to assist with scans and remediation
5) Report the Email
- Notify the Office of Cybersecurity by reporting the email as suspicious
- This helps improve protection for others
6) Contact Support if Needed
- If you are unsure whether the email is legitimate or need help, contact the MERIT Help Desk
If You Feel Physically Threatened
Most blackmail emails are scams and not credible threats. However:
- If you believe the threat is real or are concerned for your personal safety, contact law enforcement or call 911 immediately
- Do not attempt to handle a credible threat on your own
Additional Reassurance
It is completely normal to feel alarmed after receiving one of these messages. Even experienced users can find them convincing. If you feel uneasy:
You are not alone, and help is available.
Example of a threatening/blackmail email:
From: Bad Person
Sent: Tuesday, February 12, 2019 10:17 AM
To: You
Subject: (Your username and password)
I am well aware xxxxxxx is your passphrases. Lets get right to point. Not one person has compensated me to investigate you. You may not know me and you're probably thinking why you're getting this e-mail?
in fact, i placed a software on the 18+ videos (sex sites) site and guess what, you visited this site to have fun (you know what i mean). When you were watching video clips, your internet browser initiated operating as a Remote Desktop with a keylogger which gave me accessibility to your screen as well as web cam. after that, my software program obtained every one of your contacts from your Messenger, Facebook, as well as e-mailaccount. and then i made a video. First part displays the video you were viewing (you've got a nice taste hahah), and 2nd part displays the view of your cam, and it is you.
You will have not one but two possibilities. Why dont we look at each of these solutions in details:
1st alternative is to skip this e-mail. as a result, i am going to send your very own video recording to every single one of your personal contacts and thus consider regarding the humiliation you experience. and as a consequence if you are in a romantic relationship, precisely how it will certainly affect?
Next choice should be to pay me USD 969. Lets refer to it as a donation. in this situation, i will without delay eliminate your videotape. You could go on your life like this never occurred and you surely will never hear back again from me.
You will make the payment through Bitcoin (if you don't know this, search 'how to buy bitcoin' in Google).
BTC address to send to: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
[case SeNSiTiVe copy and paste it]
if you are curious about going to the authorities, look, this e-mail cannot be traced back to me. I have taken care of my actions. i am just not looking to ask you for a huge amount, i just like to be compensated. i have a specific pixel within this email message, and now i know that you have read through this email. You have one day to pay. if i don't get the BitCoins, i will send out your video to all of your contacts including members of your family, co-workers, etc. Having said that, if i do get paid, i will erase the recording immediately. if you need evidence, reply with Yeah then i will certainly send your video to your 8 contacts. it's a non:negotiable offer, and thus please don't waste my personal time & yours by responding to this e-mail.