Schneier - The “Incriminating Video” Scam

A few years ago, scammers invented a new phishing email. They would claim to have hacked your computer, turned your webcam on, and videoed you watching porn or having sex. BuzzFeed has an article talking about a “shockingly realistic” variant, which includes photos of you and your house—more specific information.

The article contains “steps you can take to figure out if it’s a scam,” but omits the first and most fundamental piece of advice: If the hacker had incriminating video about you, they would show you a clip. Just a taste, not the worst bits so you had to worry about how bad it could be, but something. If the hacker doesn’t show you any video, they don’t have any video. Everything else is window dressing.

I remember when this scam was first invented. I calmed several people who were legitimately worried with that one fact.



from Schneier on Security https://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2025/08/the-incriminating-video-scam.html

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