I received one of those terrifying sextortion emails claiming they have videos of me and demanding Bitcoin. My gut reaction is to panic, but logically, I know it’s likely a mass spam campaign. For those who’ve dealt with this, is the best course of action to simply delete and ignore it, or is there any other step I should take to protect myself?
Hello solar_river496,
You have described a classic sextortion scam. Here are the recommended steps:
Correct Action: Ignore and Delete. Do not reply, do not pay, do not engage.
Why this is the correct action:
- These are almost always mass spam emails. The sender has no video of you.
- Any engagement (even a reply) signals that your email address is active, which can lead to more targeted spam.
- Paying confirms you are a viable target and will likely lead to repeated demands.
Optional Protective Step: If the email contained a password you once used (a common trick to add credibility), change that password on any account where you still use it.
Pros of Ignoring:
- Ends the threat immediately with no cost or risk.
- You avoid confirming your email as a live target.
Cons of Ignoring:
- You may feel anxious until you confirm it’s a scam (which it is).
You are not in danger. Delete the email and put it out of your mind. If you ever receive a threat that contains specific, real details about you (not a generic password), then consider reporting it to law enforcement. For this generic email, complete inaction is your safest and best response.