Crypto blackmail scams are emails claiming the sender has compromising information about you and demands payment in crypto. They are almost always fake.
How They Work
| Stage | Content |
|---|---|
| Subject | ”You need to read this immediately” |
| Claim | ”I have footage of you visiting adult websites" |
| "Evidence" | "I installed malware on your computer and recorded you” |
| Demand | ”Send $2,000 in Bitcoin to this address” |
| Threat | ”I’ll send the video to all your contacts” |
| Deadline | ”You have 48 hours” |
Why It’s a Scam
| Claim | Reality |
|---|---|
| ”I hacked your webcam” | Most people cover their webcam |
| ”I have your passwords” | Password from an old data breach (not your current one) |
| “I recorded you” | No footage exists |
| ”I’ll send to your contacts” | Empty threat |
| ”I’ve been watching you for months” | No evidence of this ever happening |
How They Get Your Password
Data breaches. Your email and an old password were leaked in a breach. They paste the old password into the email to make it look real.
| What It Means | What to Do |
|---|---|
| They have an old password | Don’t panic — it’s from a breach |
| They don’t have your current password | Change passwords if worried |
| They don’t have access to your accounts | No breach of your current security |
What to Do
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Don’t respond |
| 2 | Don’t send crypto |
| 3 | Don’t click any links in the email |
| 4 | Mark as spam/phishing |
| 5 | Change your email password if it’s the leaked one |
Other Variations
| Variation | What They Claim |
|---|---|
| Hitman scam | ”I’ve been hired to kill you, pay me £5K to cancel” |
| Fake court order | ”You missed jury duty, pay this fine in crypto” |
| Tax scam | ”HMRC is about to arrest you, pay in Bitcoin” |
| Romance extortion | ”I have our private messages, pay or I’ll share them” |
| Deepfake threat | ”I have AI-generated video of you, pay or I’ll release it” |
The Common Thread
All of these rely on fear and urgency. The scammer creates panic so you don’t think clearly. The threat is always fake.
When to Actually Worry
It’s almost never real. But if:
- They reference something specific only a real hacker would know
- They have access to an account you use
- The threat is personalised in a way that can’t come from a data breach
Then take it seriously, but still don’t pay. Contact the police.
Bottom Line
Crypto blackmail emails are automated scams. They use old passwords from data breaches to seem real. Don’t pay, don’t respond, and mark as spam. The threat is empty — no one is watching you. If you’re concerned, run an antivirus scan and change your passwords.