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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Business
Zoe Wood

‘Hello pervert’: the sextortion scam claiming to have videoed you

NCSC
Person typing on a laptop at night in a purple light
The scam is a phishing attack whereby people are coerced to hand over money by being told they risk having incriminating videos of them visiting adult websites shared with friends and family. Photograph: Marina Demidiuk/Alamy

“Hello pervert” is how the email starts and frighteningly it appears to have been sent from your own account. It is a ransom note with the recipient warned that they have been recorded in a compromising act, and will be exposed unless they pay up.

The sender warns “this is a very bad situation for you”, or something similarly threatening.

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