“We hacked your system” email scam (fake) - Free Instructions

What is “We hacked your system” email scam?

“We hacked your system” is a sextortion scam that uses scam techniques to make users pay the ransom

“We hacked your system” is a popular email scam that relies on fear and deception to swindle unsuspecting recipients out of their money. In this kind of email, the perpetrators claim to have hacked into the victim's computer, watched sensitive data, and recorded humiliating activities – usually claiming to access adult sites.

They threaten to send this fraudulent material to the victim's contacts unless a ransom, typically $1,300 in Bitcoin, is paid within a specified time frame, which, in this case, is 50 hours. These messages typically include personalized details, such as passwords or email addresses, gleaned from previous data breaches to lend credibility to their threats.

How the “We hacked your system” scam works is that these threat emails are dispatched in mass to a high volume of target victims. The fraudsters get the email addresses either by purchasing hacked information from the dark web or scraping public forums. The emails are professionally written to induce panic, and they include technical jargon and imagined evidence of hacking to sound credible.

Despite how frightening the content is, cybersecurity experts confirm that these threats are baseless; there is no malware at all, and there is no compromising material the scammers possess. The end target is to capitalize on the victim's fear and blackmail them into making a payment.

How victims get manipulated and extorted

One of the most common forms of digital extortion today is the “We hacked your system” scam. Victims receive an alarming email claiming their device has been compromised and used to record them in sensitive or embarrassing situations. The scam message is written in a threatening tone, designed to cause panic and pressure the recipient into sending money in Bitcoin to avoid public humiliation. Here's an example of the actual text used in one such email:

Consider this message as your last warning.
We hacked your system!
We have copied all the data from your device to our own servers.
Curious videos were recorded from your camera and your actions while watching porn.
Your device was infected with our virus when you visited the porn site.
The Trojan virus gives us full access, allows us to control your device.
The virus allows not only to see your screen, but also to turn on your camera, microphone, without your knowledge.
We took over the video from your screen and camera, then we mounted a video in which you can see you watching porn in one part of the screen and masturbating in the other.
But that's not all! We have access to all the contacts in your phone book and social networks.
It won't take us long to send this video to your friends, family and friends on social networks, messengers and email in minutes.
We have a lot of audio recordings of your personal conversations, where a lot of “interesting” things are revealed!
This information can destroy your reputation once and for all in a matter of minutes.
You have an opportunity to prevent irreversible consequences.
To do this:
Transfer 1300 $ USD (US dollars) to our bitcoin wallet.
Don't know how to make a transfer? Enter the query “Buy bitcoins” into the search field.
Our bitcoin wallet bc1qj2aesryeq0yhg6ntk4s8n2sssgtpde4a2jt5eq
After making the payment, your video and audio recordings will be completely destroyed and you can be 100% sure that we won't bother you again.
You have time to think about it and make the transfer – 50 hours!
After you read this letter, we will get an automatic notification. From that moment on, the timer will start.
It is useless to complain, because bitcoin-wallets cannot be tracked, as well as the mail from which the letter arrived to you.
We also do not advise you to send this letter to anybody.
In this case the system will automatically send a request to the server, and all data will be published in social networks and messengers.
You will not be able to solve the problem by changing passwords in social networks, as all the information is already downloaded to the cluster of our servers.
Think about what your reputation means to you and how much the consequences will be.
You have 50 hours.

This is a classic example of a sextortion scam, a type of cyber threat that uses fabricated accusations and psychological manipulation to blackmail unsuspecting victims out of their money. As unsettling as the message may be, it's reassuring to understand that it's derived from a script designed to manipulate emotions rather than any hacking.

Here are some of the techniques scammers use in this email to attempt to make their threats legitimate and increase the likelihood of payment:

• Technical jargon. Throwing around terms like “Trojan virus,” “full access,” and “mounted a video” is meant to sound legitimate. Most victims won't know whether these terms are being used appropriately, which increases fear and confusion.
• Bluffing with details. The fraudsters pretend to have control over your camera, screen, microphone, contact list, and even voice recordings of your private conversations. These are all made-up details but presented in a manner that will sound believable to non-technical individuals.
• Use of time pressure. The “50 hours” countdown is designed to create a false sense of urgency, reducing the chance that the victim will stop to research or get help.
• Anonymous payment method. By asking for payment through a Bitcoin wallet, the extortionist makes it impossible for himself to be traced. Cryptocurrency is routinely used in extortion scams for this reason.
• Threat of exposure. The email threatens public humiliation if the victim doesn't obey, such as releasing embarrassing videos to family members, friends, and social media contacts—when there are no such videos.
• Claims of surveillance. The message asserts the attackers are watching for signs the victim sends the message on or reports it, which is a threat intended to make the victim stay isolated and avoid external assistance.

Overall, this scam exploits fear, shame, and technological unawareness. While there has been no hacking, the email is crafted carefully to sound ominous and credible. Knowing the tactics used can enable potential victims to remain calm and not get caught by the ruse.

How and why you get the “We hacked your system” scam email

Most individuals who get this kind of email are shocked to discover that it contains a password that is old or one you have used before, which gives the threat more credibility. The scammer usually got this from an earlier data breach in the majority of instances. When large websites or services experience security incidents, usernames, emails, and passwords are typically stolen and later resold or dumped on the dark web. Those compromised credentials may sit in databases for years, allowing scammers to use them again in bulk email frauds like this one.

The swindlers most often get the email addresses from the same sources that have been leaked or purchase bulk email lists on the web. Once they have sufficient data, they may employ automated programs or botnets to send out thousands – even millions – of identical scam message via the web. These programs also allow them to “personalize” the emails with the victim's leaked email or password so that the email seems targeted, though it's really part of a much larger campaign.

This mass-scale distribution mechanism leads people who never even visited malicious pages or downloaded malware to receive the email nonetheless. The goal is not to make access happen – it's to terrify recipients into paying before realizing that allegations have no basis in fact.

What should you do now?

If you've received one of these threatening emails, don't worry. The email is meant to intimidate you into paying, but in nearly every case, the claims are completely fabricated. The attackers never gain access to your device, camera, or personal documents – they are just bluffing.

This is what you should do:

• Do not reply or send funds: these emails are mass-sent scams. Replying or sending funds will only make your email active and may lead to further harassment.
• Change passwords: if the email contained a password you're still using, change it immediately. Focus on accounts that utilize that password and enable two-factor authentication if it's available.
• Scan your computer: use reputable security software such as SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner or Malwarebytes to scan your computer extensively for malware. Even though the email likely doesn't indicate a real infection, scanning your computer ensures that there are no real threats hiding.
• Use FortectIntego repair: if you feel that malware has affected your system performance or brought about any change, running it will be capable of detecting and fixing the issues present due to unwanted programs.
• Report the email: flag it as spam or phishing in your email client and, if required, report it to your local cybersecurity regulator or fraud reporting agency.

These actions will guarantee you remain safe and your data secure, even if in the case of such cyber threats.