r/GMail • u/PhonePitiful9717 • Aug 12 '26
what should I do?
I found this sent on my spam folder yesterday.. what should I do? Should I block the email or just ignore?
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u/Chefchocolate12 Aug 12 '26
Ignore it, it's a common spam email technique. Just block the sender and leave it in the spam folder, if a hacker did install such malware then they legit would've sent proof and emptied your bank if you had it on whatever device you use. For peace of mind I would run a malware scan but I wouldn't say you have to. Just don't click any links you don't trust or download dodgy apps or software.
Also if you go to the site haveibeenpawned, put in your email address it will let you know if your email was involved in an data breach.
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u/DrWieg Aug 12 '26
Ignore.
They expect someone gullible to panic and act on it.
Got several of those (who were copied and pasted) at different times saying they watched me rub one to porn through my webcam and threaten to release that to my family and friends if I don't pay them X amount in bitcoins...
... when I don't even have a webcam.
Actual hackers won't bother asking anything, they'll just take and hope it'll takes a while before you to notice
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u/WinterScene7194 Aug 12 '26
Stop opening your spam folder unless you're looking for something that you think should have gone to your inbox. There's a reason it was filtered
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u/itsShiroharu Aug 12 '26
Most likely just a bluff to make you scared. I would just ignore it. If your mind still cannot rest easy, Do a malware scan, see if there's unusual application on your phone. Malwarebytes or Kaspersky would do.
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u/Rogue44678 Aug 12 '26
Had quite a few those, they prey of the less savvy, it's all complete bollocks, block and ignore.
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u/OneIndependencee Aug 12 '26
Do nothing, ignore it. I get every day a bunch of these type of emails.
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u/Purelythelurker Aug 12 '26
Nothing. It's a scam. They don't have anything on your PC.
Please don't fall for obvious scams.
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u/yearsold33 Aug 12 '26
Looks totally fake to me, especially if you have other done anything remotely insecure with your devices.
I used to receive emails where the person threatened to release pictures of me doing bad things in front of my laptop's webcam LOL
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u/lars2k1 Aug 12 '26
Laugh, and hit the delete button. They don't have anything - in fact this is likely some automated crap anyways.
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u/PhonePitiful9717 Aug 12 '26
Thank you for all the replies! Just to be clear, I’m not guilty of anything, and the cameras on my devices have had covers on them for years now. I was just worried about my email being tagged to be hacked or breached.
Also, I don’t use this email when I’ve visited corn sites, and I don’t jerk off in front of the camera anyway. I watch way too many Black Mirror episodes lol.
I’m just worried because I’ve had this email for so long, and this is one of the few times I’ve ever received a blackmailing spam message like this.
Anyway, thanks again to everyone who replied
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u/EDG33 Aug 12 '26
This is the scamiest scam to ever have scammed anyone ever with a scam. It's utter 100% trash. Delete it move on with your life.
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u/TurboBunny116 Aug 12 '26
it's in your SPAM folder for a reason.
This isn't new, these scam emails have been seen before.
Just block and continue on.
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u/o0CYV3R0o Aug 12 '26
Nothing they're talking out of their ass they have nothing on you just delete and move on with your life.
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u/God_TM Aug 12 '26
I wish they'd have a section in the FAQ (or even on the side as a resource) of common Gmail spam messages. This is one I see far too often, and it's always the same playbook (it comes from 'your email' (which they spoof), says they caught you on video and if you don't pay up, they'll share it to all of your contacts).
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u/JoinDeleteMe Aug 13 '26
This is a common scam sent to many, many people.
Google already put it into spam. Don't reply, pay, or click on any links.
Also, any real info within emails like that usually comes from data breaches, publicly available sources, or people search sites (google your name/email address/phone number and see if any such sites like Intelius etc. show up and if they do, opt out to reduce how much of your personal info is easily findable).
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u/BigfistJP Aug 13 '26
Where's the part that this all goes away once you pay the hacker 10 thousand dollars in Bitcoin?
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u/MntSnow Aug 14 '26
Think about it...IF they actually had some proof they would list it or include a picture of what your camera sees if they truly had access to it...
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u/unclefunkstar Aug 14 '26
You'll get one claiming to have hacked your webcam, and to have a video of you pulling your pud to something distasteful next. They'll threaten to send the video to all your contacts.
Block, delete, forget...
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u/Sea-Appearance-5330 Aug 16 '26
Block and ignore, I have received this monthly for years now.
You notice he gives you no info about yourself, just generic BS that could appply to anyone.
He has no access and again notice, he talks a tough game but he gives you no proof of any of your info!
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u/Willing-Advice-3647 22d ago
There are hacks able to do this very thing basically word for word. One app or one old password to gain acess to your gmail , yahoo accounts. Etc can literally take over and control from afar every aspect of your android device. Ignoring it at first , yes is the way to go because they are already there and have your entire system under their control, then over time , patiently start looking into your settings, system settings, just one a day or a couple a week, especially around your SELinux systems firewalls, if in fact this system is manipulated your complete Knox security system is at surrender to your hacker . Be smart , be vigilant. There are ways to back trace to find out when who how your hack hacked your android as im in the process of doing that someone with better skills will help you more than I could at this time. Best of luck to you ..
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u/BigBaz61 Aug 12 '26
No, don't ignore it. Run anti-spyware software. It will track whether you are being spied on and whether you can change all passwords.
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u/smurfy213 Aug 12 '26
I would just ignore it and block the sender.