The “I Am A Specialized Hacker” Email Scam: What You Need to Know
Written by: Thomas Orsolya
Published on:
Have you received an alarming email claiming that a hacker has gained access to your computer, stolen your private information, and recorded embarrassing videos of you? If so, you’re not alone. The “I Am A Specialized Hacker” email scam has been making the rounds, preying on people’s fears and attempting to extort money. In this article, we’ll dive deep into this insidious scam, explore how it works, and provide actionable advice on what to do if you’ve fallen victim.
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Scam Overview
The “I Am A Specialized Hacker” scam is a type of extortion email that aims to trick recipients into believing their computer has been hacked and their private information, including compromising videos, have been stolen. The scammer behind the email claims to have gained unrestricted access to the victim’s device through a malicious software infection, often alleged to have occurred while the victim was visiting an adult website.
The email’s tone is threatening and urgent, designed to instill fear and panic in the recipient. The scammer asserts that they have been secretly observing the victim’s activities for months, including recording intimate moments through the device’s camera and microphone. They claim to have access to all of the victim’s confidential data, such as emails and chat history.
To make the threat seem more credible, the scammer often includes a password or partial password that the victim has used in the past, likely obtained from a data breach on another website. They may also claim that the victim’s antivirus software failed to detect the malware because it updates its signatures every few hours.
The scammer then presents an ultimatum: pay a ransom, usually in Bitcoin, within a short time frame (often 48-72 hours), or risk having the embarrassing videos and private information shared with the victim’s contacts and posted publicly online. The demanded ransom amount varies but is typically in the hundreds of dollars range.
Here is how the scam email looks:
Subject: Your private information has been stolen because of suspicious events
Greetings!
Would like to introduce myself – I am a specialized hacker, and have succeeded in hacking your operating system.
At this moment, I have obtained a complete access to account of yours.
On top of that, I was also unnoticeably observing all your activities and spying on you for few past months.
It was possible because your computer was infected with malicious spyware, which infiltrated your computer while you were visiting a website containing adult videos.
Give me a few minutes to clarify how that affects you. Because of Trojan viruses, I am now able to have an unrestricted access to your computer as well as any other devices owned by you.
In other words, I can see without any restrictions everything in your screen and even activate the camera together with microphone anytime I want, and you won’t even know about that.
Moreover, I have complete access to confidential data of yours including emails, chat history etc.
You may be rightfully puzzled how come your antivirus is not able to detect the harmful software of mine.
I don’t mind explaining that at all: my malicious software is driver-based; hence it refreshes its signatures every 4 hours, which makes it impossible for your antivirus to identify it.
I have come up with a video exposing the scenes of your passionate masturbation sessions on the left side, whereas on the right side it shows the dirty videos you were watching during that time .^.
Trust me, it takes several mouse clicks to distribute this video to your entire email addresses list as well as messenger contacts on your PC or other devices.
Additionally, I can easily share all your emails as well as chat history to public too.
I honestly think you would certainly like to abstain from letting that happen.
There is a solution for you in this case – perform 950 USD transfer in Bitcoin equivalent to Bitcoin account of mine
(it is really not difficult to do, and you can find online the step-by-step guide, if you have no idea about it).
My bitcoin account details are below as follows (Bitcoin wallet):
Once the aforementioned amount gets transferred to my account, I will straight away erase all those kinky videos and vanish from your life completely.
Please, settle this payment within 50 hours (2 days).
A notification will be sent to me right after this email gets opened, which will trigger the countdown.
Believe me, I am very cautious, professional and never fail.
If I get to know about you sharing this message with anyone else, I will right away distribute your private videos to public.
Best of luck!
How The Scam Works
Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of how the “I Am A Specialized Hacker” scam operates:
Step 1: Obtaining Email Addresses and Passwords
The scammer starts by acquiring a list of email addresses and associated passwords, often from data breaches of websites with weak security. They may purchase these lists on the dark web or hacker forums. The passwords are usually old and no longer valid, but their inclusion adds a false sense of legitimacy to the scam email.
Step 2: Crafting the Scam Email
Using the obtained email addresses, the scammer composes a threatening email designed to scare the recipient into believing they’ve been hacked. The email follows a general template but may include minor variations to avoid spam filters.
Key elements of the email include: – Introducing the sender as a “specialized hacker” who has compromised the recipient’s device – Claiming to have had unrestricted access to the device for months, monitoring activities and recording intimate moments – Asserting that the recipient’s antivirus failed to detect the malware due to frequent signature updates – Threatening to share compromising videos and private information with the victim’s contacts and online – Demanding a ransom payment in Bitcoin within a short time frame to prevent the release of information
Step 3: Including “Proof” of Compromise
To make the scam more convincing, the email often includes a password or partial password associated with the victim’s email address. This information is usually obtained from old data breaches and is no longer current. However, seeing a recognizable password can cause alarm and make the victim more likely to believe the hacker’s claims.
Step 4: Sending Mass Emails
Using automated tools, the scammer sends out the crafted email to thousands of recipients simultaneously. By targeting a large number of people, they increase the odds that at least some will fall for the scam and pay the ransom out of fear, even if the claims are false.
Step 5: Collecting Ransom Payments
For victims who fall for the scam and decide to pay, the email provides a Bitcoin wallet address where the ransom should be sent. Bitcoin is often the preferred payment method for scammers because it provides a high level of anonymity and is difficult to trace.
Step 6: Disappearing Without Fulfilling Promises
After receiving the ransom payment, the scammer simply moves on to the next batch of victims. They have no intention of actually erasing any data or videos, as they never had access to the victim’s device or private information in the first place. The scammer continues this cycle, raking in money from frightened victims.
What to Do If You’ve Fallen Victim to This Scam
If you’ve received the “I Am A Specialized Hacker” scam email and are worried about your privacy and security, here are some steps you can take:
1. Don’t panic. Remember that these emails are sent en masse, and the scammer likely has no actual access to your device or private information.
2. Do not reply to the email or attempt to contact the scammer. Engaging with them may only result in more threats and demands.
3. Do not pay the ransom. Paying will only encourage the scammer to continue their malicious activities and target more victims. There’s no guarantee they will follow through on their promises, and you’ll likely never hear from them again once they receive the payment.
4. Change your passwords, especially if the email includes an old password you’ve used in the past. Make sure to use strong, unique passwords for each of your accounts and enable two-factor authentication whenever possible.
5. Run a thorough scan of your device with updated antivirus software to check for any actual malware infections. Keep your software and operating system up to date with the latest security patches.
6. If you’re still concerned about your privacy, you can cover your device’s camera when not in use and be cautious about the websites you visit and the links you click on.
7. Report the scam email to your email provider and mark it as spam to help protect others from falling victim. You can also file a report with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) or your local law enforcement agency.
8. Educate yourself and others about online scams and the importance of maintaining good cybersecurity practices. Stay informed about the latest threats and share your knowledge to help create a safer online environment for everyone.
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 (FAQ) About the “I Am A Specialized Hacker” Email Scam
1. Is this scam email legitimate? Has my computer really been hacked?
No, the “I Am A Specialized Hacker” email is a scam and not a legitimate threat. The scammer has not actually hacked your computer or accessed your private information. They are using scare tactics and false claims to trick you into paying a ransom.
2. How did the scammer get my password?
The scammer likely obtained your email address and an old password from a data breach on another website. They include this information to make their claims seem more credible, but it does not mean they have actually hacked your current accounts.
3. Should I pay the ransom to protect my privacy?
No, do not pay the ransom under any circumstances. Paying will only encourage the scammer to continue their malicious activities and target more victims. There is no guarantee that they will follow through on their promises to delete your data, as they likely never had access to it in the first place.
4. What should I do if I receive this scam email?
If you receive the “I Am A Specialized Hacker” scam email, do not panic or respond to the scammer. Change your passwords, especially if the email includes an old one you’ve used before. Run a thorough scan of your device with updated antivirus software, and report the email to your email provider and relevant authorities.
5. Can the scammer really access my camera and microphone?
It is highly unlikely that the scammer has gained access to your camera and microphone through this email scam. However, if you are concerned about your privacy, you can cover your device’s camera when not in use and be cautious about the websites you visit and the software you install.
6. I’m still worried about my online security. What else can I do?
To further protect your online security, make sure to use strong, unique passwords for each of your accounts and enable two-factor authentication whenever possible. Keep your software and operating system updated with the latest security patches, and be cautious when clicking on links or downloading attachments from unknown sources.
7. How can I help protect others from falling victim to this scam?
You can help protect others by reporting the scam email to your email provider and marking it as spam. Share your knowledge about online scams with your friends, family, and colleagues, and encourage them to maintain good cybersecurity practices. If you have fallen victim to this scam, consider sharing your experience to raise awareness and prevent others from making the same mistake.
The Bottom Line
The “I Am A Specialized Hacker” email scam is a distressing but ultimately hollow threat designed to prey on people’s fears and extort money. By understanding how this scam works and taking appropriate precautions, you can protect yourself and your loved ones from falling victim to these malicious tactics.
Remember, scammers rely on fear and panic to cloud people’s judgment and make rash decisions. By staying calm, informed, and proactive, you can maintain control of your online security and privacy. Trust your instincts, and don’t let scammers manipulate you into giving away your hard-earned money or personal information.
If you receive this or any other suspicious email, take a moment to assess the situation rationally and follow the steps outlined above. Together, we can fight back against these scams and create a safer, more trustworthy online environment for everyone.
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.
Thomas is an expert at uncovering scams and providing in-depth reporting on cyber threats and online fraud. As an editor, he is dedicated to keeping readers informed on the latest developments in cybersecurity and tech.
