Cyber & Technical Scams
Password Extortion Scam
Emails claiming "I have your password" and threatening to release embarrassing webcam footage unless you pay Bitcoin — usually a bluff using passwords from old data breaches.
Reported Losses
Part of $178 million in extortion losses (FBI 2024)
Primary Targets
Anyone with email, especially people who reuse passwords
Last Updated
2026-01-07
Also Known As
Sextortion Email
How Scammers Contact You
How This Scam Works
Scammers send millions of emails trying to scare recipients into paying.
**The email typically claims:** - "I've hacked your computer and recorded you watching porn" - "I have access to all your accounts" - Shows one of your OLD passwords as "proof" - Demands Bitcoin payment within 24-48 hours - Threatens to send video to all your contacts
**Where they get your password:** - Data breaches (LinkedIn, Adobe, etc.) - Password dumps sold on dark web - Phishing attacks - They DON'T actually have webcam access
**Why it's effective:** - Seeing your real password is shocking - Many people HAVE watched porn and fear exposure - Shame prevents people from asking others for advice - Bitcoin payment is untraceable - Deadline creates urgency
**The reality:** These are almost always bluffs. Scammers send millions of emails hoping a small percentage will pay out of fear.
Red Flags to Watch For
- ⚠️Email claims to have recorded you via webcam
- ⚠️Shows an old password you recognize (but no other proof)
- ⚠️Demands Bitcoin payment
- ⚠️Threatens to send video to contacts
- ⚠️Short deadline (24-48 hours)
- ⚠️Generic email — doesn't mention specific details about you
- ⚠️Same email sent to millions of people
- ⚠️No actual video or images attached as proof
📝 Real Victim Account
"I got an email with my LinkedIn password from 2012 saying they'd recorded me through my webcam and would send the video to everyone unless I paid $2,000 in Bitcoin. I panicked because it was my real password. A friend told me it was a bluff — my password was leaked years ago and they had nothing else. I changed my passwords and nothing ever happened."
— FBI Public Service Announcement
How to Protect Yourself
- 1Don't panic — these are almost always bluffs
- 2Never pay the ransom — it won't stop future emails
- 3Change any password they show you (and everywhere you reused it)
- 4Use unique passwords for every site (password manager)
- 5Enable two-factor authentication everywhere
- 6Cover your webcam when not in use (tape or cover)
- 7Check haveibeenpwned.com to see where your data was breached
- 8Report and delete the email
🆘 What to Do If You're a Victim
- 1Don't respond or pay
- 2Change the compromised password everywhere you used it
- 3Enable 2FA on important accounts
- 4Report to FBI IC3 at ic3.gov
- 5Report to FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov
- 6Mark email as spam and delete
- 7If you paid, report to your local police
- 8Future emails are likely — continue ignoring them
🔗 Related Scams
📚 Sources & References
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