My Parent Allowed Someone to Remotely Access His Computer, What Now?
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What can I do if I receive an email claiming I’ve been hacked and demanding Bitcoin payment?
🔍 What Is This Email?
These emails often claim to have compromising information or videos of you and threaten to release them unless you pay in Bitcoin. They may include personal details like your name or an old password to appear legitimate. This is a classic scareware tactic, and the perpetrators are using threats, intimidation, and high-pressure tactics to trick you out of your money.
The perpetrators behind these emails are scammers. Don’t pay them. They are using threats, intimidation, and high-pressure tactics to trick you out of your money.
✅ Is It Real?
Unless the email includes actual compromising material (which is rare), it’s almost certainly a scam. Even if it contains a password, this often results from a data breach and doesn’t indicate active hacking.
Sending one of your passwords isn’t proof. You should change that password though, and if you reuse passwords, you should switch to using unique, per-account passwords which are stored in a password manager
🛡️ How Should I Respond?
- Do Not Pay: Paying encourages further extortion and doesn’t guarantee the scammer will stop.
- Delete the Email: Remove it from your inbox and trash to avoid accidental clicks.
- Change Your Passwords: Update passwords for accounts mentioned or where you reuse credentials
- Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Add an extra layer of security to your accounts.
🧠 How Did They Get My Info?
Scammers often obtain personal information from data breaches and dark web leaks. They may also use old passwords to create a sense of urgency and legitimacy
🛡️ How Can I Protect Myself?
- Use Unique Passwords: Avoid reusing passwords across different sites
- Employ a Password Manager: Safely store and generate strong passwords.
- Be Cautious with Personal Information: Limit sharing personal details online.
- Regularly Monitor Accounts: Keep an eye on your financial and online accounts for unusual activity.
📞 Need Further Assistance?
If you receive a suspicious email or need help securing your accounts, consider reaching out to:
- Federal Trade Commission (FTC): ReportFraud.ftc.gov
- Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3): ic3.gov
- Get help from 911Cyber: Report
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