Just had a weird email! Please help

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I got an email from myself with my full name written on and my email address. It said “hello pervert….” And said it’s downloaded a spyware called Pegasus and will send a video of me to all my contacts! I kind of know it’s fake as I’m very boring and do nothing dodgy but I’m a little worried as I carry my phone everywhere with me such as in the bathroom, in bed etc. is this real? I’m doubting as it went into my VIP list and had my full name on it! Shall I start deleting my contacts?

Sorry, it said “hidden whilst we look into it” but it’s back now . Thanks

Thank you all! If it wasn’t for you all I would be sat here terrified. I hate these scum bags x

Mussy comments will have briefly been held because of the coin part.
but this is a scam, at some point your name and email will have been leaked and they just spam everyone with this, just delete and move on!

report as Phishing, then delete

I've had it at least three times. I was a bit anxious, like you, the first time (despite also being a boring person with nothing concerning on my phone) but ignored and now I just delete as soon as I see it. Nothing happened. Don't worry x

It may be there has been a data breach somewhere so they have your email address and name

Report as spam /phishing. Then delete and ignore.

Haha, came on this to see if there had been a bulk send out.
I got one too.
I don’t think I’m a pervert.
Just ignore it.

I had this and just chuckled.

Doubt anyone's interested in any "dodgy" videos of me 🤣

It was unnerving that it came from "my" email address but as of yet, none of my contacts have received any videos so I think we're safe.

Useful advice from the article:

You should not respond to the scammer as this confirms the email address they have used is active. Also do not open any attachments that have been sent. Instead, in the UK forward it to [email protected], which is the suspicious email reporting service, and then delete it.
If you are tempted to pay the ransom be aware that doing so will probably make you a bigger target for scammers as the phisher will know they have a “willing” customer, warns the NCSC.
Do not worry if the phish includes one of your passwords as this has probably been obtained from an historical breach of personal data, rather than through access to your devices. You can check whether your account has been compromised and get future notifications by visiting the website haveibeenpwned.com.
If the email includes a password you still use then change it and if possible add 2-step verification to the account. Also make sure your new email password is strong and is not reused for any other websites.
If you have been a victim of a sextortion scam and have handed over money then report it to your local police force by calling 101 in the UK. Similarly if you need emotional support this is available from charities such as Victim Support by calling 0808 168 9111.

I got one too a while back, just delete and then delete from your deleted items.

My husband had this a few months back. Just ignore it, they send it out to millions of email addresses. Who knows how they got your name, they're clever these scammers.

But my husband ignored it and so far no videos of him wanking have been sent to his Facebook friends... Or whatever it was they were threatening him with !!

Data is sold to these companies on the black market. They have your nane but they don't have video footage of you.

Because the minute you sign up for literally anything the company shucks your data like a juicy privacy violation oyster to a third party

I’ve had like 8 of these. It’s just a phishing scam. I just delete them and forget about them entirely. If one day my contact lists gets footage of me plucking my chin hairs whilst zombie scrolling Instagram, so be it 😅

How horrible. This sort of email could drive someone over the edge. There are some real scumbags out there.

If you ever get an email that doesnt seem right, dont click on any of the links or reply to it. Just Google it. If its spam, there will be loads of people who've received it.

If it doesnt come up as spam on Google look at:

• the spelling and grammar. Admittedly this is getting better but there are often things like incorrect capitalisation.
• look at the sender email and any contact emails. Are they what you would expect? Or are there weird things that arent quite right eg instead of (made up emails here) [email protected] it might be [email protected]. If in doubt, Google.
• if it seems like a legitimate email eg from your bank. Dont click on the links but log onto your bank separately.
• is there an urgency? Are you being told to do something NOW or face awful consequences. Probably a scam.
• trust your gut and be cynical.

I’ve had this email so many times now whenever my husband texts me he always starts with ‘hello pervert’ 🤣

It’s 100% bullshit - your name and email are on some spam mailing list but they do not have access to your email even though the email appears to come from your exact email address. They just alter their email settings so it looks like it does. It would be in your sent items if they’d sent it from your own account. They have no private info on you. I’ve had this exact email. If they did, they’d screengrab it to prove that they aren’t messing about! They are scum bags, using a very convincing trick to hopefully ensnare someone who has been looking at iffy stuff in the hope of extracting money from them. Ignore and block.

I've had this email countless times.

I’ve had this. Hilarious! “Hello pervert” 😂😂 I marked as spam and deleted and just carried on being a pervert in secret

My mum got this email and we now regularly joke is she keeping up with the payments as I dont want to see those videos!! It's a scam, a very horrible one but thankfully with this thread and by taking a breath and knowing you dont have any videos of that nature that they could access, you know feel calmer and know it's a scam

Because it's got a word on the MN naughty list beginning with B.

Yes it's a scam, your details may have been taken in one of the many hacks, mine may have been several times, including the latest M&S hack

I've had this. I love how dramatic and menacing they try to be. It's a strange approach. I couldn't keep a straight face reading it.
I sincerely hope no-one takes it seriously enough to fall it, but then, if it never worked it wouldn't still be doing the rounds.
Scammy bustards.

Fwiw COOP have confirmed today that all of their members personal details were stolen during a recent hack, be alert for dodgy emails if this includes you

I had this exact identical email, I ignored and deleted it