Sometimes you may receive an email telling you that a certain group has hacked your computer. These emails usually claim that they have recorded you through your webcam while you were masturbating or using pornographic sites. Considering how often many people visit pornographic sites, it’s easier for them to find victims who may accept their message as true.
So how can you tell if a blackmailer is telling the truth or just trying to extort money from you? Below are the steps you should take to protect yourself from illicit blackmail.
How To identify Fake Blackmail Attempts
When you initially get one of these ‘blackmail’ messages, it’s normal to get scared. But there are many signs you should look out for that may help you know if you should worry or not.
Does the email mention any details about you? If the email does not specifically state any of your personal information, then there is the probability that the blackmailer has nothing on you. Usually, the easiest thing that someone who has hacked your computer will have is your name so if they’re not referring to you by name or giving you your location, then they might be lying to you.
Do they provide any evidence? If someone truly has a video of you masturbating or watching pornography, then at the very least, they will include a screenshot in the email. If there are no screenshots or evidence of video, then they are probably trying to trick you to pay money to them.
Are you the only one getting this email or others have got the exact email? There’s a higher probability that this same email you have received has been sent to many recipients or people at the same time. To prove this, just copy a section of the text into Google. If it comes back with many results of people who’ve got emails with almost the same content, then you’re probably safe.
Avoiding Blackmail Scams
- If you are viewing a pornographic site, make sure that it is a trusted site with a good reputation.
- Never click on any suspicious links promising you free services that are too good to be true.
- If possible, use a VPN service to protect yourself.
- Always keep webcams covered when you visit suspicious sites or disconnected when not in use.
