The sextortion / blackmail email

You receive a threatening email claiming to have compromising information about you and demanding money to keep it quiet.

Documented by the FTC & FBI IC3 · reviewed 2026-07-11T18:14:57.874Z

How it works

The scammer sends you an unsolicited email that claims they have recorded you in a compromising situation or have accessed embarrassing photos or videos. They create a sense of urgency and shame, threatening to send this material to your contacts or post it online unless you pay them quickly, often demanding payment in untraceable forms like gift cards or cryptocurrency.

What it can look like

You get an email from an unfamiliar address saying they've hacked your webcam and recorded you, and they demand payment within 24 hours or they'll send the video to your family and friends. The email may reference an old password you once used, making it seem more credible.

How it unfolds

Scams like this follow a pattern. Knowing the arc helps you notice where you are — and step away before the ask.

You receive an email claiming the sender has compromising video or images of you and threatens to share them with your contacts unless you pay quickly. The message feels personal and urgent.

The sender may reference a password you used somewhere, or a detail about your devices, to make the threat feel credible and real. Panic and shame start to build.

You're told to pay a specific amount (usually in cryptocurrency or gift cards) within hours, or 'everyone will know.' The pressure feels unbearable and the deadline very close.

STOP HERE: This is the moment to pause. No legitimate person or agency collects payment this way. Real threats warrant police involvement, not secrecy. Delete the message, take a breath, and reach out to someone you trust.

Red flags

An unsolicited email making sexual or criminal accusations and demanding immediate payment
References to passwords or personal details that feel familiar but could be from old public breaches
Pressure tactics like 'you have 24 hours' or threats to contact your loved ones
Requests for payment in gift cards, cryptocurrency, or wire transfers that cannot be reversed
Poor spelling or grammar, or a generic tone that doesn't reference specific details about you

What to do

Do not respond, do not pay, and do not click any links in the email
Block the sender and delete the message; if the threat feels credible, contact your local police non-emergency line
Report the email to reportfraud.ftc.gov so authorities can track patterns and protect others

If it already happened

Acting quickly can limit the damage. You are not alone, and it is not your fault.

Do not reply to the email, send money, or follow any instructions. Block the sender immediately and delete the message thread.
If you already paid: Contact your bank or payment service right away to report the fraud and ask if the transaction can be reversed or frozen.
Change your passwords for email and other sensitive accounts. If the sender mentioned a real password, that account was compromised; update it immediately.
Report the email to the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov. Include the sender's email address, the date, and a copy of the full message. You can also report to your local police non-emergency line.

Sources

Guidance on this page draws on public, authoritative consumer-protection resources (verified live 2026-07-10). Documented by the FTC & FBI IC3 · reviewed 2026-07-11T18:14:57.874Z.

Spotted this or lost money? Report it at reportfraud.ftc.gov. This is general educational information, not legal or financial advice — and ScamVet never asks for your identity or account details.

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