“Your personal data has leaked due to suspected harmful activities” email scam (fake) - Free Instructions

What is “Your personal data has leaked due to suspected harmful activities” email scam?

“Your personal data has leaked due to suspected harmful activities:” a sextortion scam explained

Cyber scams have become increasingly sophisticated and prevalent due to ever-growing technology usage in all aspects of life. One such scam is the “Your personal data has leaked due to suspected harmful activities” email (alternatively known as the “Professional hacker and have successfully managed to hack your operating system” scam email), a type of sextortion scam designed to scare recipients into paying cryptocurrency to avoid the public exposure of their private data.

This scam preys on people's fears and privacy concerns, using psychological manipulation to extort money. In this article, we will delve into what this scam entails, how it works, why you might receive such an email, and what steps you should take if you encounter it. We will also discuss preventive measures to protect yourself from similar threats.

Example of an email and what it means

The scam email typically reads as follows:

Subject: Your personal data has leaked due to suspected harmful activities.

Hi there!

I am a professional hacker and have successfully managed to hack your operating system.
Currently I have gained full access to your account.

In addition, I was secretly monitoring all your activities and watching you for several months.
The thing is your computer was infected with harmful spyware due to the fact that you had visited a website with porn content previously. ╭ ᑎ ╮

Let me explain to you what that entails. Thanks to Trojan viruses, I can gain complete access to your computer or any other device that you own.
It means that I can see absolutely everything in your screen and switch on the camera as well as microphone at any point of time without your permission.
In addition, I can also access and see your confidential information as well as your emails and chat messages.

You may be wondering why your antivirus cannot detect my malicious software.
Let me break it down for you: I am using harmful software that is driver-based,
which refreshes its signatures on 4-hourly basis, hence your antivirus is unable to detect it presence.

I have made a video compilation, which shows on the left side the scenes of you happily masturbating,
while on the right side it demonstrates the video you were watching at that moment..ᵔ.ᵔ

All I need is just to share this video to all email addresses and messenger contacts of people you are in communication with on your device or PC.
Furthermore, I can also make public all your emails and chat history.

I believe you would definitely want to avoid this from happening.
Here is what you need to do – transfer the Bitcoin equivalent of 850 USD to my Bitcoin account
(that is rather a simple process, which you can check out online in case if you don't know how to do that).

Below is my bitcoin account information (Bitcoin wallet): 12nEVuGNtRFMVjeVmLtD4nt2sHX68S47yH
Once the required amount is transferred to my account, I will proceed with deleting all those videos and disappear from your life once and for all.
Kindly ensure you complete the abovementioned transfer within 50 hours (2 days +).
I will receive a notification right after you open this email, hence the countdown will start.

Trust me, I am very careful, calculative and never make mistakes.
If I discover that you shared this message with others, I will straight away proceed with making your private videos public.
Good luck!

Scammers use several psychological tactics to manipulate recipients. Firstly, they establish a sense of authority and expertise by claiming to be professional hackers, which makes the threat appear credible.

They then create a sense of urgency and fear by stating that they have been monitoring the recipient for months and have explicit content ready to be shared. By mentioning specific private activities and using technical jargon like “Trojan viruses” and “driver-based software,” they aim to intimidate the recipient with their technical prowess.

Finally, they impose a strict deadline, compelling the recipient to act quickly out of fear, without seeking advice or verification. This tactic is very typical across all sorts of scams, so beware of it.

Why did you receive “Your personal data has leaked due to suspected harmful activities” scam email?

Scammers obtain email addresses through various means, often purchasing them from databases available on the dark web. These databases are usually compiled from data breaches of legitimate websites where people have registered using their email addresses. Once scammers have access to a large list of email addresses, they send out mass emails, hoping that a small percentage of recipients will fall for the scam.

In some cases, the “Your personal data has leaked due to suspected harmful activities” email may appear more personalized if the scammers have obtained additional information such as usernames, passwords, or other personal details from past data breaches.

This additional information can make the scam seem more credible and targeted, increasing the likelihood of a successful extortion attempt. It's important to understand that these scammers are not specifically targeting you but are rather using a wide net to catch as many victims as possible.

What to do after receiving it and after paying It

If you receive a “Your personal data has leaked due to suspected harmful activities” scam email, do not panic. Here are the steps you should take:

• Never reply to the email or engage with the scammer in any way. Responding can confirm to the scammer that your email address is active and potentially open you up to further scams.
• Run a full system scan using a reliable antivirus or anti-malware software, such as SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner or Malwarebytes, to ensure that your device is not infected with malicious software. Update your software to the latest version to ensure maximum protection.
• Report the scam to your local authorities and the cybercrime division. In the United States, you can report such scams to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). Many countries have similar agencies for reporting cybercrime.
• If you have already paid the scammer, contact your bank or financial institution immediately. They may be able to help you recover the funds or offer advice on how to protect your accounts.
• Update the passwords for all your online accounts, especially if you suspect that your email or other personal information may have been compromised.

Precautionary measures against email scams and sextortion messages

To protect yourself from email scams and sextortion messages in the future, consider the following precautionary measures:

• Use strong passwords
  Create complex passwords for all your online accounts and change them regularly. Consider using a password manager to keep track of your passwords securely.
• Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)
  Wherever possible, enable 2FA on your accounts. This adds an extra layer of security by requiring a second form of verification in addition to your password.
• Be cautious of unsolicited emails
  Do not open emails or download attachments from unknown senders. Be wary of any unsolicited communications that ask for personal information or threaten you.
• Regularly update software
  Keep your operating system, antivirus, and all software up to date. Regular updates can patch security vulnerabilities and protect you from the latest threats.
• Use additional software
  If your system was infected with malware, it may start malfunctioning post-removal. To avoid crashes and other issues, employ repair tools such as FortectIntego to fix malware damage automatically.

By following these guidelines and remaining vigilant, you can significantly reduce your risk of falling victim to scams like the “Your personal data has leaked due to suspected harmful activities” sextortion email.

Always remember that reputable organizations will never ask for personal information or payments through email, and any threats should be treated with skepticism and reported to the appropriate authorities.