[Scam Alert] Pegasus Sextortion & Bitcoin Scam

This article is from Trend Micro.

Get an email from a “hacker” that threatens to expose your private video unless you pay with bitcoins? Don’t panic. It’s a scam!

Sextortion emails, or blackmails, have been circulating online for years. Scammers falsely claim that your device is infected with malware so that they can spy on you, urging you to pay an amount of money or else they will publish your photo, video, or other digital footprints.

In the latest case, scammers claimed that your cellphone has been attacked and compromised by “Pegasus” malware. They prompt you to send bitcoins to have your “private files” deleted. Please ignore the email and delete it. Don’t follow the instructions. It is just a SCAM!

Content

Hello, I’m going to share important information with you.

Have you heard about Pegasus? You have become a collateral victim. It’s very important that you read the information below. Your phone was penetrated with a “zero-click” attack, meaning you didn’t even need to click on a malicious link for your phone to be infected.
Pegasus is a malware that infects iPhones and Android devices and enables operator of the tool to extract messages, photos and emails, record calls and secretly activate cameras or microphones, and read the contents of encrypted messaging apps such as WhatsApp, Facebook, Telegram and Signal.
Basically, it can spy on every aspect of your life. That’s precisely what it did.
I am a blackhat hacker and do this for a living. Unfortunately you are my victim. Please read on. As you understand, I have used the malware capabilities to spy on you. And by that I mean that I have collected your parts of your private life. My only goal is to make money. And I have perfect leverage for this. As you can imagine in your worst dream, I have videos of you exposed during the most private moments of your life, when you are not expecting it. I personally have no interest in them, but there are public websites, that have perverts loving that content. As I said, I only do this to make money and not trying to destroy your life. But if necessary, I will publish the videos. If this is not enough for you, I will make sure your contacts, friends and everybody you know see those videos as well.
Here is the deal. I will delete the files after I receive 0.035 Bitcoin (about 1600 US Dollars). You need to send that amount here 12mojuzVPeSh2 6qmA9GLJFADo4chgGbtj3
I will also clear your device from malware, and you keep living your life. Otherwise, shit will happen. The fee is non negotiable, to be transferred within 2 business days. Obviously do not try to ask for any help from anybody unless you want your privacy to be violated. I will monitor your every move until I get paid. If you keep your end of the agreement, you wont hear from me ever again. Take care.

How to avoid email scams

• Double-check the sender’s mobile number/email address.
• Ignore and delete any email that instructs you to send bitcoins or other cryptocurrency.
• NEVER click links or attachments from unknown sources. Use Trend Micro Check to detect scams with ease!

1. After you pin the Trend Micro Check browser extension, it will block dangerous sites for you automatically:

2. Trend Micro Check on WhatsApp:
Send a link or a screenshot of suspicious text messages to Trend Micro Check on WhatsApp for immediate scam detection:

Download Trend Micro Maximum Security for even more protection, including Web Threat Protection, Ransomware Protection, Anti-phishing , and Anti-spam Protection. Gain access to the Privacy Scanner for Facebook and Twitter, Social Networking Protection, and Parental Controls, too. Click the button below to give it a try:

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