Question I got a blackmail email, what do i do?

[T3chN00b24]

I got an email that came straight to my inbox and they listed one of my passwords (which i have now changed on all sites I can think of), saying that they had put malware and keyloggers and stuff on xvideos (a porn site if you didnt know) and that theyd captured video from the webcam and contacts on messenger and all sorts and then they basically said that if i didnt send them 1900 pounds or whatevers worth of bitcoin that theyd send it to all these contacts theyd captured. I have bitdefender antivirus, i was on an incognito tab and had a vpn up, I also dont think i was even logged in on messenger or anything like that but im not sure. What do i do, I dont even have that money im a student, even if i did not sure id want to lose that much. They said they had a pixel in the email or something so that theyd know i read it, they also said theyd covered their tracks so going to law enforcement and that wouldnt be worth the trouble. should i contact them anyway, what do i doo?

 

[rgd1101]

ignore the emaili.
malware scan your system
And make sure different site use different password

 

[T3chN00b24]

I've already read it. Ive malware scanned everything and everything is saying clean, Ive changed all my passwords. The only thing I'm worried about now is that the password they knew was the password to my firefox account (ive changed it now) and Im just scared that they have actually done what they have said theyve done.

 

[COLGeek]

Move on and don't overthink this. You'll be okay. This is a fairly common way to scare folks into doing something dumb. Don't be one of those people.

 

[T3chN00b24]

Oh I wasn't going to do it anyway but was just scared since it seemed more specific and coherent than the usual <<Edited by moderator>>. In a way its good because ive really tightened up my online security, i was already changing my passwords but ive gone deeper and also added more 2 factor auth Thanks guys

 

[COLGeek]

Oh I wasn't going to do it anyway but was just scared since it seemed more specific and coherent than the usual <<Edited by moderator>>. In a way its good because ive really tightened up my online security, i was already changing my passwords but ive gone deeper and also added more 2 factor auth Thanks guys

You took the right steps. Just keep an eye on things.

 

[jlklaas]

They typically get the passwords from hacking into some obscure sites passwords. Since most people use the sameish password everywhere, they can email people (like you) and you will think they actually have a pertinent pw. They don't have your pw to everything, although they could be trying to use what they have to log in to other possible accounts. Best thing to do is change your pw regularly, use different passwords and ignore all phishing emails. They do it to 100 people, and one will inevitably pay them to make it stop, not realizing if they had just ignored them they would go away. These people are tricky. Report them as phishing to your email and move on. Good luck.