ALERT! I'm hacked you and stolen you information

[Teknophobe]

I received the below email 3 days ago and have followed all of the instructions at https://www.virginmedia.com/help/security/why-is-my-virgin-media-email-hacked

(I've removed the password and my email address from the below mail  but the password was correct!!!? the email was sent to me from my own email address 😞 ).  I've also forwarded the mail to report phishing at uk gov etc

I've scanned my computer - no malware found, no forwarding instructions ... so how the hell did they get hold of my password?? None of my non VM accounts (with different passwords)  have been hacked (so far).  I know VM had a security breach in 2020 but claimed no passwords were stolen. If they didnt get my password from me .. and I dont think they did, they must have got it from VM?  Fortunately, no damage (so far)  - have you seen anything like this before?

Thanks

Teknophobe

Date: 01 May 2030 at 08:15
Subject: ALERT! I'm hacked you and stolen you information

Hey

I have to share bad news with you.

Approximately few months ago I have gained access to your devices, which you use for internet browsing.
After that, I have started tracking your internet activities.
Some time ago I hacked you and got access to your email accounts

address deleted
Obviously, I have easily hack to log in to your email.

Your password: (deleted)

One week later, I have already installed Trojan virus to Operating Systems of all the devices that you use to access your email.
In fact, it was not really hard at all (since you were following the links from your inbox emails).
All ingenious is simple. 😃
This software provides me with access to all the controllers of your devices (e.g., your microphone, video camera and keyboard).
I have downloaded all your information, data, photos, web browsing history to my servers.
I have access to all your messengers, social networks, emails, chat history and contacts list.
My virus continuously refreshes the signatures (it is driver-based), and hence remains invisible for antivirus software.

Likewise, I guess by now you understand why I have stayed undetected until this letter...

While gathering information about you, I have discovered that you are a big fan of adult websites.
You really love visiting porn websites and watching exciting videos, while enduring an enormous amount of pleasure.
Well, I have managed to record a number of your dirty scenes and montaged a few videos, which show the way you **bleep** and reach orgasms.

If you have doubts, I can make a few clicks of my mouse and all your videos will be shared to your friends, colleagues and relatives.
I have also no issue at all to make them available for public access.
I guess, you really don't want that to happen, considering the specificity of the videos you like to watch, (you perfectly know what I mean) it will cause a true catastrophe for you.

Let's settle it this way:
You transfer $400 USD to me (in bitcoin equivalent according to the exchange rate at the moment of funds transfer), and once the transfer is received, I will delete all this dirty stuff right away.
After that we will forget about each other. I also promise to deactivate and delete all the harmful software from your devices. Trust me, I keep my word.

This is a fair deal and the price is quite low, considering that I have been checking out your profile and traffic for some time by now.
In case, if you don't know how to purchase and transfer the bitcoins - you can use any modern search engine.

Here is my bitcoin wallet: bc1qc7uw3ll3zj83c0jk5cryduns6f3rlju3ac4v6p

Things you need to avoid from doing:
*Do not reply me (I have created this email inside your inbox and generated the return address).
*Do not try to contact police and other security services. In addition, forget about telling this to you friends. If I discover that (as you can see, it is really not so hard, considering that I control all your systems) - your video will be shared to public right away.
*Don't try to find me - it is absolutely pointless. All the cryptocurrency transactions are anonymous.
*Don't try to reinstall the OS on your devices or throw them away. It is pointless as well, since all the videos have already been saved at remote servers.

Things you don't need to worry about:
*That I won't be able to receive your funds transfer.
- Don't worry, I will see it right away, once you complete the transfer, since I continuously track all your activities (my trojan virus has got a remote-control feature, something like TeamViewer).
*That I will share your videos anyway after you complete the funds transfer.
- Trust me, I have no point to continue creating troubles in your life. If I really wanted that, I would do it long time ago!

Everything will be done in a fair manner!

One more thing... Don't get caught in similar kind of situations anymore in future!
My advice - keep changing all your passwords on a frequent basis

[simonhall]

hi there im having the same issue......been sent a email ...but they have managed to getino my old blueyonder.co.uk email adresss which should of been deleted.....and that have hijacked other acounts of mine now.....i need help

[Carley_S]

Hi @simonhall 

Welcome to the community forums. 

Really sorry to hear that you have also received this email to an address that should have been deleted to your knowledge. 

I can see that you are already in private conversation with one of our forum team for this issue. If you have any concerns or questions at all, please direct them to your private message conversation so we are able to support and respond more quickly to your queries. 

[simonhall]

thanks... yes issue is being looked into...

[Tom_W1]

Hi @simonhall thanks for your reply - we'll do our best to get this sorted for you.

Thanks for your patience in the meantime. 

Many thanks

[simonhall]

thanks issues has been resolved...

[Steven_L]

Thanks for coming back to us simonhall and I'm glad that you have been able to get your issues resolved.

Please let us know if you have any further issues.

Kind Regards,

Steven_L

[goslow]

---

@lorrainemg wrote:

I received this email today after all my social media accounts linked to this email address were hacked. They are now asking for $600! How do I report this, they quoted an old password of min? Aside from changing my passwords what can I do?

---

What actions have you taken so far? There are some suggestions at message #25 above.

[shibble]

I have also received this email, but now i can no longer log in to my main email address.

I have tried to delete the account but i am unable to create a new one with the old email credentials.

I do not know how to contact (which dept) virgin media with this problem.

[goslow]

---

@shibble wrote:

I have also received this email, but now i can no longer log in to my main email address.

I have tried to delete the account but i am unable to create a new one with the old email credentials.

I do not know how to contact (which dept) virgin media with this problem.

---

You might have got yourself into a bit of a muddle here by deleting the account.

Presumably you are still a VM broadband customer?

Aside from receiving the email, did you have any evidence that your email account had actually been taken over (such as other websites/services being changed via that email address)?

For some, the scam email has coincided with an actual attempt to take over email accounts and other services. For others who have received it though (including myself) it was nothing more than a hoax and an attempt to commit fraud against the recipient.

VM stopped customers creating new email accounts some time ago so you won't be able to create new accounts.

If you are still a VM broadband customer and still need access to the account you will need the help of the VM forum team to try to stop the deletion of the account.

One of the VM forum team should reply here within a few days to try to help.

[shibble]

Thank you for the quick reply. I deleted my account because i was also hacked on facebook and they had definitely taken over my account at exactly the same time that i started to have problems with my main virgin email account

I even had the full email address of the person who did this. 

I have an alternative email address with virgin and i was unaware that you could not register a new account, i am hopeful that somehow they can restore my original email address.

I am going on holiday on friday but should be able to access this email account.

Once again thank you for all your help, it is very much appreciated.