“Hey, You Have Forgotten Something” Email Scam Expalained
Written by: Stelian Pilici
Published on:
Have you received a threatening email claiming you made a mistake or left a device unlocked? Don’t panic – it’s a scam. This “Hey, You Have Forgotten Something” email tries to extort money through false claims and blackmail. Ignore demands for Bitcoin and don’t respond, as scammers are bluffing.
In this article, I’ll break down exactly how this scam works and what to do if targeted. Let’s get started!
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Scam Overview
The “Hey, You Have Forgotten Something” email scam is a form of cyber extortion that involves the attacker sending an email to the victim, claiming to have gained access to their electronic devices and personal information. The email typically begins with the ominous subject line, “Hey, you have forgotten something,” followed by a message asserting that the attacker has installed malware on the victim’s device through a compromised website.
The scammer alleges to have access to the victim’s screen activity, webcam footage, and sensitive files. They threaten to expose compromising images or videos of the victim to their contacts and on social media platforms unless a ransom is paid, usually in the form of cryptocurrency like Bitcoin.
What sets this scam apart is the level of detail and apparent authenticity in the email. The attacker may include the victim’s actual password or a portion of it, lending credence to their claims. They may also mention specific adult websites or online activities to further intimidate the victim. The email often includes a Bitcoin wallet address and a strict deadline for payment, heightening the sense of urgency and fear.
Here is what the email “Hey, You Have Forgotten Something” scam usually looks like:
Hey, you have forgotten something
Your time is rapidly reaching its end. Your gadgets are now mine. Thanks to some websites. As a matter of fact, it was those sites that helped me.
One of them had my special code on it and it worked. What that means to you is that I can see everything that happens on your screen and in front of your screen. If you doubt it then don’t read any further into this letter.
I’m not wasting my time on you either and I’m just gonna post all this crap with you on every possible website and social networks and send it out to all your contacts.
I made a copy of your most interesting files and I also have the contact addresses you use most often,
I have your browsing history. I have everything I need. At first I wanted to delete all content from your devices and forget about it. But I took a look at the sites that you regularly visit and I changed my mind. I’m talking about sites with all kinds of nasty stuff on them.
After a while, I had an idea. I took screenshots of website pages where you spend your time alone. Then I took screenshots of you satisfying yourself using the camera of one of your devices.
By the way, I had to wait for you to successfully to get in the camera lens… But it was worth it and it will impress to all your acquaintances and regular people on the Internet.
To cut a long story short I’ll make you a deal. You wire me the money and I’ll delete all that shit about you and we’ll forget about each other. 750 USD in BTC equivalent is fine with me. Send it to the wallet:
I’ll give you 60 hours from now to pay.
I told you what happens if you don’t pay, I don’t give a fuck, it’s up to you. And don’t hold a grudge. Everybody’s got a job to do. And one piece of advice from me for the future. Don’t leave your devices unattended.
However, it’s crucial to understand that these claims are false. The scammer has not actually gained access to the victim’s devices or personal information. Instead, they rely on social engineering techniques and publicly available data breaches to craft convincing emails that manipulate the victim’s emotions and coerce them into paying the ransom.
How the Scam Works
To fully grasp the mechanics of the “Hey, You Have Forgotten Something” email scam, let’s break down the step-by-step process:
Step 1: Acquiring Email Addresses and Personal Information
Scammers obtain email addresses and personal information through various means, such as data breaches, phishing attacks, or purchasing them on the dark web. They compile extensive lists of potential victims to target with their extortion emails.
Step 2: Crafting the Email
Using the acquired email addresses, the scammer composes a carefully worded email designed to instill fear and panic in the recipient. The email typically follows a similar structure:
An attention-grabbing subject line like “Hey, you have forgotten something” or “Your time is up.”
Claims of having installed malware on the victim’s device through a compromised website.
Assertions of access to the victim’s screen activity, webcam footage, and sensitive files.
Threats to expose compromising images or videos to the victim’s contacts and on social media.
A ransom demand, usually in Bitcoin, with a strict payment deadline.
A Bitcoin wallet address for the victim to send the payment.
To add authenticity, the scammer may include the victim’s actual password or a portion of it in the email. They may also reference specific adult websites or online activities to further intimidate the victim.
Step 3: Sending the Email
The scammer sends out the carefully crafted email to a large number of potential victims, hoping that a percentage of them will fall for the scam and pay the ransom out of fear and desperation.
Step 4: Collecting the Ransom
If a victim falls for the scam and sends the requested payment to the provided Bitcoin wallet address, the scammer collects the ransom. They may continue to monitor the wallet for additional payments from other victims.
Step 5: Disappearing
Once the scammer has collected the ransom, they typically disappear without fulfilling their promise to delete the alleged compromising material. The victim is left with a financial loss and the realization that they have been scammed.
It’s important to emphasize that the scammer’s claims are false. They have not actually gained access to the victim’s devices, screen activity, or webcam footage. The inclusion of the victim’s password or personal information in the email is often obtained from publicly available data breaches and is used to create an illusion of authenticity.
What to Do If You Have Fallen Victim to This Scam
If you have received an email similar to the “Hey, You Have Forgotten Something” scam, it’s essential to remain calm and take the following steps:
Do not pay the ransom: Paying the scammer will only encourage them to continue their malicious activities and target more victims. There is no guarantee that they will delete any alleged compromising material, and they may even come back with additional demands.
Report the email as spam: Mark the email as spam in your email client to help prevent future emails from the same sender from reaching your inbox.
Change your passwords: Although the scammer’s claims are likely false, it’s a good practice to change your passwords for any online accounts associated with the email address that received the scam email. Use strong, unique passwords for each account and enable two-factor authentication whenever possible.
Run a malware scan: While the scammer’s claims of installing malware on your device are usually unfounded, it’s still a good idea to run a thorough malware scan using reputable antivirus software to ensure your device is clean.
Educate yourself and others: Share your experience with friends, family, and colleagues to raise awareness about this scam. Educate them on how to identify and handle such emails to prevent them from falling victim to similar schemes.
Report the scam to authorities: If you have suffered a financial loss due to this scam, report it to your local law enforcement agency and the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). Provide as much information as possible, including the email, Bitcoin wallet address, and any other relevant details.
Seek support: Falling victim to a scam can be emotionally distressing. If you feel overwhelmed or anxious, don’t hesitate to reach out to a trusted friend, family member, or mental health professional for support.
Is Your Device Infected? Check for Malware
If your device is running slowly or acting suspicious, it may be infected with malware. Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Free is a great option for scanning your device and detecting potential malware or viruses. The free version can efficiently check for and remove many common infections.
Malwarebytes can run on Windows, Mac, and Android devices. Depending on which operating system is installed on the device you’re trying to run a Malwarebytes scan, please click on the tab below and follow the displayed steps.
Malwarebytes For WindowsMalwarebytes For MacMalwarebytes For Android
Scan your computer with Malwarebytes for Windows to remove malware
Malwarebytes stands out as one of the leading and widely-used anti-malware solutions for Windows, and for good reason. It effectively eradicates various types of malware that other programs often overlook, all at no cost to you. When it comes to disinfecting an infected device, Malwarebytes has consistently been a free and indispensable tool in the battle against malware. We highly recommend it for maintaining a clean and secure system.
Download Malwarebytes for Windows
You can download Malwarebytes by clicking the link below.
After the download is complete, locate the MBSetup file, typically found in your Downloads folder. Double-click on the MBSetup file to begin the installation of Malwarebytes on your computer. If a User Account Control pop-up appears, click “Yes” to continue the Malwarebytes installation.
Follow the On-Screen Prompts to Install Malwarebytes
When the Malwarebytes installation begins, the setup wizard will guide you through the process.
You’ll first be prompted to choose the type of computer you’re installing the program on—select either “Personal Computer” or “Work Computer” as appropriate, then click on Next.
Malwarebytes will now begin the installation process on your device.
When the Malwarebytes installation is complete, the program will automatically open to the “Welcome to Malwarebytes” screen.
On the final screen, simply click on the Open Malwarebytes option to start the program.
Enable “Rootkit scanning”.
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware will now start, and you will see the main screen as shown below. To maximize Malwarebytes’ ability to detect malware and unwanted programs, we need to enable rootkit scanning. Click on the “Settings” gear icon located on the left of the screen to access the general settings section.
In the settings menu, enable the “Scan for rootkits” option by clicking the toggle switch until it turns blue.
Now that you have enabled rootkit scanning, click on the “Dashboard” button in the left pane to get back to the main screen.
Perform a Scan with Malwarebytes.
To start a scan, click the Scan button. Malwarebytes will automatically update its antivirus database and begin scanning your computer for malicious programs.
Wait for the Malwarebytes scan to complete.
Malwarebytes will now scan your computer for browser hijackers and other malicious programs. This process can take a few minutes, so we suggest you do something else and periodically check the status of the scan to see when it is finished.
Quarantine detected malware
Once the Malwarebytes scan is complete, it will display a list of detected malware, adware, and potentially unwanted programs. To effectively remove these threats, click the “Quarantine” button.
Malwarebytes will now delete all of the files and registry keys and add them to the program’s quarantine.
Restart your computer.
When removing files, Malwarebytes may require a reboot to fully eliminate some threats. If you see a message indicating that a reboot is needed, please allow it. Once your computer has restarted and you are logged back in, you can continue with the remaining steps.
Your computer should now be free of trojans, adware, browser hijackers, and other malware.
If your current antivirus allowed this malicious program on your computer, you may want to consider purchasing Malwarebytes Premium to protect against these types of threats in the future. If you are still having problems with your computer after completing these instructions, then please follow one of the steps:
Scan your computer with Malwarebytes for Mac to remove malware
Malwarebytes for Mac is an on-demand scanner that can destroy many types of malware that other software tends to miss without costing you absolutely anything. When it comes to cleaning up an infected device, Malwarebytes has always been free, and we recommend it as an essential tool in the fight against malware.
Download Malwarebytes for Mac.
You can download Malwarebytes for Mac by clicking the link below.
When Malwarebytes has finished downloading, double-click on the setup file to install Malwarebytes on your computer. In most cases, downloaded files are saved to the Downloads folder.
Follow the on-screen prompts to install Malwarebytes.
When the Malwarebytes installation begins, you will see the Malwarebytes for Mac Installer which will guide you through the installation process. Click “Continue“, then keep following the prompts to continue with the installation process.
When your Malwarebytes installation completes, the program opens to the Welcome to Malwarebytes screen. Click the “Get started” button.
Select “Personal Computer” or “Work Computer”.
The Malwarebytes Welcome screen will first ask you what type of computer are you installing this program, click either Personal Computer or Work Computer.
Click on “Scan”.
To scan your computer with Malwarebytes, click on the “Scan” button. Malwarebytes for Mac will automatically update the antivirus database and start scanning your computer for malware.
Wait for the Malwarebytes scan to complete.
Malwarebytes will scan your computer for adware, browser hijackers, and other malicious programs. This process can take a few minutes, so we suggest you do something else and periodically check on the status of the scan to see when it is finished.
Click on “Quarantine”.
When the scan has been completed, you will be presented with a screen showing the malware infections that Malwarebytes has detected. To remove the malware that Malwarebytes has found, click on the “Quarantine” button.
Restart computer.
Malwarebytes will now remove all the malicious files that it has found. To complete the malware removal process, Malwarebytes may ask you to restart your computer.
Your Mac should now be free of adware, browser hijackers, and other malware.
If your current antivirus allowed a malicious program on your computer, you might want to consider purchasing the full-featured version of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware to protect against these types of threats in the future. If you are still experiencing problems while trying to remove a malicious program from your computer, please ask for help in our Mac Malware Removal Help & Support forum.
Scan your phone with Malwarebytes for Android to remove malware
Malwarebytes for Android automatically detects and removes dangerous threats like malware and ransomware so you don’t have to worry about your most-used device being compromised. Aggressive detection of adware and potentially unwanted programs keeps your Android phone or tablet running smooth.
Download Malwarebytes for Android.
You can download Malwarebytes for Android by clicking the link below.
In the Google Play Store, tap “Install” to install Malwarebytes for Android on your device.
When the installation process has finished, tap “Open” to begin using Malwarebytes for Android. You can also open Malwarebytes by tapping on its icon in your phone menu or home screen.
Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the setup process
When Malwarebytes will open, you will see the Malwarebytes Setup Wizard which will guide you through a series of permissions and other setup options. This is the first of two screens that explain the difference between the Premium and Free versions. Swipe this screen to continue. Tap on “Got it” to proceed to the next step. Malwarebytes for Android will now ask for a set of permissions that are required to scan your device and protect it from malware. Tap on “Give permission” to continue. Tap on “Allow” to permit Malwarebytes to access the files on your phone.
Update database and run a scan with Malwarebytes for Android
You will now be prompted to update the Malwarebytes database and run a full system scan.
Click on “Update database” to update the Malwarebytes for Android definitions to the latest version, then click on “Run full scan” to perform a system scan.
Wait for the Malwarebytes scan to complete.
Malwarebytes will now start scanning your phone for adware and other malicious apps. This process can take a few minutes, so we suggest you do something else and periodically check on the status of the scan to see when it is finished.
Click on “Remove Selected”.
When the scan has been completed, you will be presented with a screen showing the malware infections that Malwarebytes for Android has detected. To remove the malicious apps that Malwarebytes has found, tap on the “Remove Selected” button.
Restart your phone.
Malwarebytes for Android will now remove all the malicious apps that it has found. To complete the malware removal process, Malwarebytes may ask you to restart your device.
Your phone should now be free of adware, browser hijackers, and other malware.
If your current antivirus allowed a malicious app on your phone, you may want to consider purchasing the full-featured version of Malwarebytes to protect against these types of threats in the future. If you are still having problems with your phone after completing these instructions, then please follow one of the steps:
Restore your phone to factory settings by going to Settings > General management > Reset > Factory data reset.
Frequently Asked Questions about the “Hey, You Have Forgotten Something” Email Scam
Q1. What is the “Hey, You Have Forgotten Something” email scam?
The “Hey, You Have Forgotten Something” email scam is a type of cyber extortion where the scammer sends an email claiming to have hacked your electronic devices, accessed your sensitive information, and recorded compromising videos of you. The scammer threatens to expose this information unless you pay a ransom, usually in Bitcoin.
Q2. How do I know if I’ve received a “Hey, You Have Forgotten Something” scam email?
These scam emails typically have a subject line similar to “Hey, you have forgotten something” or “Your time is up.” The email may contain personal information like your password or mentions of adult websites you’ve allegedly visited. It will demand a ransom payment in Bitcoin within a specified timeframe.
Q3. Has the scammer really hacked my devices and accessed my information?
In most cases, no. Scammers use social engineering techniques and information from data breaches to craft convincing emails. They have not actually hacked your devices or recorded any compromising videos. The personal information mentioned in the email is usually obtained from publicly available data breaches.
Q4. Should I pay the ransom demanded in the email?
No, you should never pay the ransom. Paying the scammer will only encourage them to continue their malicious activities and target more victims. There is no guarantee that they will delete any alleged compromising material, and they may even come back with additional demands.
Q5. What should I do if I receive a “Hey, You Have Forgotten Something” scam email?
If you receive this scam email, do not panic or engage with the scammer. Mark the email as spam, change your passwords for any online accounts associated with the email address, and run a malware scan on your devices. If you have suffered financial loss, report the scam to your local law enforcement and the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).
Q6. How can I protect myself from falling victim to this scam?
To protect yourself from the “Hey, You Have Forgotten Something” scam, be cautious when opening emails from unknown senders. Enable two-factor authentication on your accounts, use strong and unique passwords, and keep your software and antivirus programs up to date. Educate yourself about common online scams and be wary of any unsolicited emails demanding payment or threatening to expose personal information.
Q7. What should I do if I’m feeling anxious or distressed after receiving this scam email?
Receiving a cyber extortion email can be emotionally distressing. If you feel overwhelmed or anxious, reach out to a trusted friend, family member, or mental health professional for support. Remember that you are not alone, and there are resources available to help you cope with the situation.
Q8. Can I trace the scammer behind the “Hey, You Have Forgotten Something” email?
Tracing the scammer can be difficult, as they often use anonymity tools and cryptocurrencies to cover their tracks. However, by reporting the scam to the appropriate authorities and providing them with the email, Bitcoin wallet address, and any other relevant information, you can aid in their investigations and potentially help prevent others from falling victim to the same scam.
The Bottom Line
The “Hey, You Have Forgotten Something” email scam is a disturbing example of how cybercriminals exploit human emotions for financial gain. By understanding the mechanics of this scam and taking proactive measures to protect yourself, you can minimize the risk of falling victim to such schemes.
Remember, the scammer’s claims are false, and paying the ransom will only perpetuate their malicious activities. If you receive an email similar to this scam, do not engage with the scammer or send any payments. Instead, report the email, change your passwords, run a malware scan, and educate others about the dangers of cyber extortion.
By staying informed, vigilant, and proactive, we can collectively combat these scams and create a safer online environment for everyone. Don’t let fear and intimidation control your actions. Stand firm, seek support, and take the necessary steps to protect yourself and your digital well-being.
How to Stay Safe Online
Here are 10 basic security tips to help you avoid malware and protect your device:
Use a good antivirus and keep it up-to-date.
It's essential to use a good quality antivirus and keep it up-to-date to stay ahead of the latest cyber threats. We are huge fans of Malwarebytes Premium and use it on all of our devices, including Windows and Mac computers as well as our mobile devices. Malwarebytes sits beside your traditional antivirus, filling in any gaps in its defenses, and providing extra protection against sneakier security threats.
Keep software and operating systems up-to-date.
Keep your operating system and apps up to date. Whenever an update is released for your device, download and install it right away. These updates often include security fixes, vulnerability patches, and other necessary maintenance.
Be careful when installing programs and apps.
Pay close attention to installation screens and license agreements when installing software. Custom or advanced installation options will often disclose any third-party software that is also being installed. Take great care in every stage of the process and make sure you know what it is you're agreeing to before you click "Next."
Install an ad blocker.
Use a browser-based content blocker, like AdGuard. Content blockers help stop malicious ads, Trojans, phishing, and other undesirable content that an antivirus product alone may not stop.
Be careful what you download.
A top goal of cybercriminals is to trick you into downloading malware—programs or apps that carry malware or try to steal information. This malware can be disguised as an app: anything from a popular game to something that checks traffic or the weather.
Be alert for people trying to trick you.
Whether it's your email, phone, messenger, or other applications, always be alert and on guard for someone trying to trick you into clicking on links or replying to messages. Remember that it's easy to spoof phone numbers, so a familiar name or number doesn't make messages more trustworthy.
Back up your data.
Back up your data frequently and check that your backup data can be restored. You can do this manually on an external HDD/USB stick, or automatically using backup software. This is also the best way to counter ransomware. Never connect the backup drive to a computer if you suspect that the computer is infected with malware.
Choose strong passwords.
Use strong and unique passwords for each of your accounts. Avoid using personal information or easily guessable words in your passwords. Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on your accounts whenever possible.
Be careful where you click.
Be cautious when clicking on links or downloading attachments from unknown sources. These could potentially contain malware or phishing scams.
Don't use pirated software.
Avoid using Peer-to-Peer (P2P) file-sharing programs, keygens, cracks, and other pirated software that can often compromise your data, privacy, or both.
To avoid potential dangers on the internet, it's important to follow these 10 basic safety rules. By doing so, you can protect yourself from many of the unpleasant surprises that can arise when using the web.
Meet Stelian Pilici
Stelian leverages over a decade of cybersecurity expertise to lead malware analysis and removal, uncover scams, and educate people. His experience provides insightful analysis and valuable perspective.
