Scam????

[hudsonvett]

My teenage son has received this email and is worrying about it.

I've told him it's a scam which I'm convinced it is but just to put his mind at rest, I thought I'd get some clarification on here.

It's been sent from his actual email address to himself, that's the part that's weird.

Best way forward - block himself on his email address if that's possible?

Is it definitely from his own email address? Did you expand the sender details? If it's on gmail then click the 'to me' under the senders name.

Scam as has been said.

Report to the email provider to get the sender’s account hopefully locked down and investigated.

Has it really been sent from his own email or, if you hover over it, is there a different email address hidden behind the display name?

Its a scam anyway.

Yes, I got a very similar one a few years ago. Never looked at an "adult" website in my life!

definitely a scam just delete it - they sent this to my work email once I work in a very secure industry there’s no way they hacked into my pc and as a 48 yr old woman I can say with some confidence that I’ve never searched porn on any of my devices - it’s a good lesson in the dangers of the internet for him if nothing else

He can ignore it. It probably isn't even from his own email address. They can use spoofing to make it look like it is. Tell him to change his password and scan for malware to put his mind at ease, but it's just a chancer trying their luck.

It's definitely his own email address.

I don't doubt that it's a scam though. We've changed his password and it's been forgotten about now, hopefully 🤞🏻

It's a scam, they've just spoofed the Sent address and used a generic boilerplate text to spook the receiver.

But if you need an opportunity to advise him of the risks of watching porn...

Yes, utter bollocks was what I was going to say! A friend of mine in her 50s got one, she thought it was hilarious but also wondered how someone much younger who did use porn sites would react. Delete but change passwords. And really make sure everything has a separate password (much easier said than done I know).

Yes, as PP have said, it's extremely easy to spoof any email address- and they use your own address to both spook you and so you can't block it without stopping yourself from being able to send any emails yourself from that account.

The reference to GDPR is weird. It almost seems to be saying that the law specifically exists to permit others to steal and compromise your data; rather than to protect you!

Also, this clearly works on embarrassment at watching porn - reckoning that many recipients will have been doing that - but why would you be prosecuted under GDPR for watching legal online content, which I'm assuming is what the vast majority of those who fall for the scam will be concerned about?

Mind, I've had similar scams before that claim they're the Metropolitan Police and that they 'know' I've been viewing online child abuse images - but apparently, if you pay them off, they'll happily overlook it and say no more about it?!

It isn't actually from his email address, the scammers use spoofing to make it look like they've used his email address. He has nothing to worry about, just delete the email.

I'd reply and tell them I'd love to see all tge foottgeyd captured.

I had this and found it very alarming and bizarre how it was 'sent' from my own email address.
Somehow, they make it look like it's been sent from your own email address but it actually isn't.
The easiest way is to check his sent items and it won't be there.
Definitely a scam, ignore and do not worry!

Scammers are vile people. That email is a scam, I’ve had the same message loads of times. The only websites I use are MN and Rightmove 😂 not sure they are classed as naughty web searches.

Hope your son is reassured by the responses here.

It's a scam. I have received basically the same email, as have my friends. Google would have told you this.