Don’t Fall for the Viral “You’re in Big Trouble” Email Scam
Written by: Thomas Orsolya
Published on:
A shocking new extortion scam has emerged in inboxes around the world, attempting to extort money by claiming compromising videos were recorded through your webcam. The email claims you are in “big trouble” and demands payment in Bitcoin within 48 hours.
This viral sextortion scheme preys on victims using fabricated threats and scare tactics. The message is designed specifically to intimidate and pressure recipients into immediate payment out of fear. However, giving in to their demands will only make you vulnerable to further extortion.
This article will provide an in-depth look at how the “You’re in big trouble” extortion scam works, why their threats are empty, and most importantly, how to protect yourself. Arm yourself with knowledge so you don’t fall victim when targeted by online criminals seeking to coerce you through fear and deception.
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Overview of the Scam Email
This viral extortion scheme starts with an intimidating email claiming you are now on the radar of a group of dangerous hackers. The message claims they have accessed your device’s camera and recorded incriminating videos of you watching pornography online.
Threatening to send the supposed videos to all your contacts, they demand payment of around $1000 in Bitcoin within 48 hours. The email signs off with “You’re in big trouble” to install fear that major harm will come if demands are not met.
In reality, the likelihood remote hackers recorded you through your webcam is extremely rare. The threats being made in this scam email are completely fabricated as an intimidation tactic. No real evidence exists, only smoke and mirrors to extort fast payment.
Unfortunately, sextortion scams play off victims’ fears that embarrassing content could spread to their friends, family or professional contacts. But giving into ransom demands will only validate the criminal scheme and could open you up to more extortion attempts.
Here is how the “You’re in Big Trouble” email looks:
Hello, You are in big trouble.
You are now on the radar of an international group of hackers, and such things never end well for anyone.
I’m sure you’ve heard of Anonymous. Well, compared to us, they are a bunch of schoolboys. unconventional pornography on the internet that most normal people would consider perverted.
By the way, here is your email password: pa55word 🙂
I think you already understand that we would not write to an ordinary man who watches “vanilla” and even hardcore porn – there is nothing special about that.
But the things you’re watching are beyond good and evil.
So after accessing your phone and computer cameras, we recorded you masturbating to extremely controversial videos.
There is a close-up footage of you and a little square on the right with the videos you’re pleasing yourself.
Only money matters to me.
Here is your salvation: you must transfer $1270 in Bitcoin to this BTC cryptocurrency wallet: 1kJLyJJ21q3VtyL9yFP8Jxb5jjTBCq6oF
You have exactly 48 hours to make the payment, so think less, and do more.
As soon as I receive confirmation of the transaction, I will delete all compromising content and permanently disable our computer worm.
Believe me, I always abide by gentleman’s agreements. Even with people who are hardly gentlemen. Because it’s nothing personal, just business.
If I do not receive a payment, I will send all videos of you to every person in your contact list, messengers and email.
Relatives, loved ones, colleagues, friends-everyone you’ve ever been in contact with will receive them.
You understand perfectly well that you will never be able to wash this stain on your reputation.
Everyone will remember you as sick as fuck.
Your life will be completely ruined, and, most likely, only a tightened noose around your neck will be able to save the day.
If you haven’t dealt with crypto before, I suppose it won’t be difficult for you to figure it all out.
Simply type in the “crypto exchange” into the search bar and pay with a credit card. Besides, based on your browser history, you are a savvy user.
When you want to, you can dig into the darkest depths of the Internet, so I’m sure you will be able to find out what is what.
Here is what my colleagues and I should warn you against:
…Do not reply to this email. Do you really think we are so stupid to be tracked by an email address? This is a temporary disposable email.
As soon as I clicked “Send”, it was gone for good.
…Forget about law-enforcement authorities. As soon as I see that you are trying to contact them, the compromising material will be published.
I am sorry that we met in such circumstances. Probably, everything could be different if you had been more careful about what you are doing on the Internet.
Watch yourself from now on, because even such things that you previously considered insignificant can destroy your life in the future like a butterfly effect.
P.S. The countdown is on. The choice is yours
How the “You’re in Big Trouble” Scam Works
To avoid being manipulated by this viral extortion scam, it helps to understand exactly how the criminals operate:
Step 1: Spam Out Scam Emails
Using a temporary disposable email, the scammers send out mass volumes of the “You’re in big trouble” email to blanket inboxes across the internet. Victims are selected at random with no actual prior knowledge or access to their devices.
Step 2: Shocking Claims of Recording You
The message uses bold claims of recording you through your webcam watching pornography as blackmail. This creates instant discomfort and fear of being exposed.
Step 3: Threats to Spread Footage
Maximum intimidation comes from threatening to spread edited together footage to all your contacts. This implies they’ve already compiled embarrassing videos ready to share.
Step 4: Short Timeframe to Pay Ransom
The scammers impose an urgent 48 hour deadline before threatening to follow through on exposé threats. This is meant to force action before you can think it through.
Step 5: Demand for Bitcoin Payment
Payment in untraceable Bitcoin allows the scammers to remain anonymous while quickly moving money overseas beyond the reach of authorities.
Step 6: Warnings Not to Contact Authorities
The email specifically tells victims not to contact law enforcement or try tracing the message, outright threatening greater harm if you do.
As you can see, the claims and threats being made are unsubstantiated, relying entirely on intimidation and fear creation. The scammers hope victims will be too scared or embarrassed to risk the threatened exposure.
But their entire leverage depends on empty threats with no evidence, banking on you acting rashly and paying up. Keep this in mind if you find their message in your inbox, and you deny them their power.
What to Do if You Receive the “You’re in Big Trouble” Email
If faced with the pressures and threats of this viral sextortion scam, following these steps protects you without caving to criminals:
Do not reply or communicate with the sender in any way. Ignore all future attempts to contact you.
Avoid paying anything being demanded. This only validates the scam, funds criminal activity, and could open you to more extortion.
Check login activity on accounts and run malware scans to see if any unauthorized access occurred. Update passwords if concerned.
Report the scam attempt to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov and forward the email headers.
Notify contacts about ignoring suspicious emails from unknown senders.
File a report about the scam email with the Anti-Phishing Working Group so they can continue tracking these schemes.
The most important step is not allowing intimidation tactics to push you into rash decisions. Stop and consider that the threats are baseless lies with zero evidence to back them up. Avoid reactionary steps like paying ransoms and you greatly lower any true risks from this scam while contributing to stopping these schemes.
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 “You’re in Big Trouble” Sextortion Scam
1. How do I know if the “big trouble” email I received is a scam?
The threats made in the email about hacking your webcam and having compromising videos are fabricated, with no proof provided. Demands for untraceable payment like Bitcoin are also red flags. Real hackers don’t announce themselves or threaten exposure.
2. Could my computer really be hacked by visiting adult sites?
Merely visiting adult sites does not allow remote access to your webcam. While malicious links exist, modern operating systems prevent takeover through legal sites. Run malware scans to be safe, but know their hacking claims are highly dubious.
3. I’m scared. Should I just pay the ransom?
We understand the fear, but paying encourages criminal schemes and could open you to more extortion attempts. The scammers have no actual leverage, so try not to make rash decisions based on empty threats.
4. What will happen if I don’t pay the ransom?
Nothing. The scammers have no compromising videos of you. They are trying to scare you into paying quickly. Ignore their threats, which they cannot follow through on. Block their emails and do not engage.
5. How can I avoid falling for sextortion scams?
Avoid opening emails from unknown senders
Use strong passwords and enable two-factor authentication when possible
Be suspicious of threats demanding quick payment through Bitcoin
Keep software updated and run regular malware scans on devices
Cover your webcam when not in use as a precaution
6. What should I do if I already paid the ransom?
Contact your bank immediately to try stopping the transaction if possible. File a report at ic3.gov about the extortion attempt and notify contacts about the scam. Do not communicate further with the scammer, as this could lead to more demands.
The Bottom Line on the “You’re in Big Trouble” Sextortion Scam
Being targeted by online extortionists can be extremely unsettling, especially when such invasive threats are made against you. However, arming yourself with knowledge on their deceptive tactics helps avoid reactionary decisions.
This viral scam thrives on creating urgency and fear to manipulate victims. But when you take time to think critically, the lack of any proof or actual leverage becomes clear.
Don’t allow scammers to intimidate you with hollow threats and demands. Stop their criminal scheme in its tracks by reporting the attempt and warning loved ones. Sharing awareness protects potential victims from falling for smoke and mirrors.
By spotting the signs of sextortion scams, understanding their false threats, and refusing to be pressured into compliance, you can stand up against online extortion. Your power comes through seeing past their fabricated warnings of “You’re in big trouble” and acting rationally, not out of fear.
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 Thomas Orsolya
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.
