Just had what could be (to some people) a VERY scary threatening email.

[classic33]

I get these regularly. Delete it and do not give it a second thought.

Some people might, and that's what the senders of these are hoping for, I'd say.
Even if one person pays them, they've made a profit.

 

[Dogtrousers]

I get these regularly. Delete it and do not give it a second thought.

No, do give it a second thought. Spend a bit of time pondering how untrustworthy emails are and how suspicious you should be of them.

Email was invented when the internet was a simpler, safer place. The worst that was likely to happen was some mischievous nerdy computer students played a merry jape on you. Now it's the domain of spammers, scammers, phishers, bots and worse. It's a cesspit. Attempts to retro fit decent security onto email have been made but it's all a bit late now.

 

[markemark]

No, do give it a second thought. Spend a bit of time pondering how untrustworthy emails are and how suspicious you should be of them.

Email was invented when the internet was a simpler, safer place. The worst that was likely to happen was some mischievous nerdy computer students played a merry jape on you. Now it's the domain of spammers, scammers, phishers, bots and worse. It's a cesspit. Attempts to retro fit decent security onto email have been made but it's all a bit late now.

If I pondered that every time I got a dodgy email I'd be wasting part of my day. Granted I have many email addresses and have SPAM settings on moderate to not miss certain important ones...but I see plenty of dodgy ones and just delete and they're forgotten by the time my finger lifts.
But ponder away if that suits you.

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

No, do give it a second thought. Spend a bit of time pondering how untrustworthy emails are and how suspicious you should be of them.

Email was invented when the internet was a simpler, safer place. The worst that was likely to happen was some mischievous nerdy computer students played a merry jape on you. Now it's the domain of spammers, scammers, phishers, bots and worse. It's a cesspit. Attempts to retro fit decent security onto email have been made but it's all a bit late now.

When I was a programmer I had to write a replacement for the email system on one of our main systems


I was shocked at how easy it was - once I had disabled the supplied system I just wrote a simple program based on the right IP Address and port number and suddenly all emails send to that system went through my program

worst thing was that when you send an email things like who is sending it and where it comes from is just data
absolutely no protection or anything

My boss refused to believe that it was so simple and open
called me some name (we got on well - so I didn;t have to go to HR!!)

and in the next minute he got an email from his boss
his boss's boss
the CEO of the company
and the President of the USA

all telling him he was a prat


he believed me after that - but it showed how simple and trusting the Internet was in the early days

 

[Dogtrousers]

When I was a programmer I had to write a replacement for the email system on one of our main systems


I was shocked at how easy it was - once I had disabled the supplied system I just wrote a simple program based on the right IP Address and port number and suddenly all emails send to that system went through my program

worst thing was that when you send an email things like who is sending it and where it comes from is just data
absolutely no protection or anything

My boss refused to believe that it was so simple and open
called me some name (we got on well - so I didn;t have to go to HR!!)

and in the next minute he got an email from his boss
his boss's boss
the CEO of the company
and the President of the USA

all telling him he was a prat


he believed me after that - but it showed how simple and trusting the Internet was in the early days

They've cobbled some bits on to it so it's not quite so easy and open, or at least you can still amend the data but at least some of your fakery should be detectable (SPF and DKIM if you want to read up about it and reminisce about your old job).

 

[postman]

This week alone i have had four failed not at home delivery e mails ,i have been home,and a cloud payment failure all of which are utter sheet.

 

[fossyant]

This week alone i have had four failed not at home delivery e mails ,i have been home,and a cloud payment failure all of which are utter sheet.

It's sadly very common. I have Voda, and there is a loyalty programme, and I've had emails that say click here to access the loyalty scheme as you've earnt x to get some say, ear buds... Go to access it, looks legit, hang on... bank details.... nope.

They only need 1% or less to click through to rob you. Easier than smashing into a house !

 

[Punkawallah]

Wow. Is that more or less scary than the government?

 

[Punkawallah]

It's sadly very common. I have Voda, and there is a loyalty programme, and I've had emails that say click here to access the loyalty scheme as you've earnt x to get some say, ear buds... Go to access it, looks legit, hang on... bank details.... nope.

They only need 1% or less to click through to rob you. Easier than smashing into a house !

Indeed. Even when you do account for the mere one in 20 UK crimes that result in a charge. Not a prosecution. Not a conviction, not a custodial sentence. Just a charge.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

they have collected all my private details including bank account and passwords

In which case they could just transfer the money out of your bank account without involving you. Funny that they don’t 🧐

 

[Jameshow]

@Dave7 - if you're sending Bitcoin then could you send some my way?

The only incriminating evidence I have on you is that you like bicycles. But that should be enough to horrify many people.

Otherwise just ignore it. I've had many purporting to have incriminating videos of me on webcam which they'll remove if I send them money. Fine, I'm on my webcam a lot with work and would happily share them with anyone, although I'm not sure academic meetings and/or online lectures/seminars are that titillating however you never know .

Dave I've got incriminating video evidence of you being dropped by a female round the world audaxer...

£250 / dura ace brifters or it goes on the mundane news page!🤣🤣🤣🤣

 

[DCLane]

Dave I've got incriminating video evidence of you being dropped by a female round the world audaxer...

£250 / dura ace brifters or it goes on the mundane news page!🤣🤣🤣🤣

There's far, far worse evidence on film. Try being beaten by 12 year-olds in grasstrack racing, or on the track at Manchester.

I got passed by a man with one leg whilst riding up Holme Moss last month for Wakefield Tri Club's annual cake ride. What's worse is he didn't have any cake - whilst I took the opportunity to exchange donations for cakes - and then he passed me coming back down

 

[Jameshow]

There's far, far worse evidence on film. Try being beaten by 12 year-olds in grasstrack racing, or on the track at Manchester.

I got passed by a man with one leg whilst riding up Holme Moss last month for Wakefield Tri Club's annual cake ride. What's worse is he didn't have any cake - whilst I took the opportunity to exchange donations for cakes - and then he passed me coming back down

My claim to fame (wrong thread!) is being beaten by Emile Caress second fastest UK marathon runner (he was 13!)

 

[Drago]

1st off, I have copied it and forwarded it to the authorities.
Its a lengthy email but in a nutshell the sender tells me they have collected all my private details including bank account and passwords plus lots of other stuff.
He/she gives me 2 choices 1. Pay them $600 in bit coins.....I have 24 hours to do this or 2. He will sell it all on the dark Web.
The only worrying part is that I copied it to my folder and the actual email then instantly disappeared which is a shame.

I had a similar threat a few years ago. Apparently they had video of me having a J Arthur while watching porn only computer. This was clearly nonsense, as the desktop PC I had at the time didn't even have a camera.

I replied to the effect that they'd messed with the wrong person and when I caught up with them I was going to give them the hiding of a lifetime. Strangely enough I never heard a dickie bird back.

Didn't bother reporting it. They almost all originate from over seas, no realistic prospect of any action being taken even if they were somehow identified.