SCAM LIBRARY · THREATS & BLACKMAIL

The sextortion / blackmail email

A scammer sends you an email claiming they have compromising video of you and demanding money, but they almost never actually have any such material.

Documented by the FTC & FBI IC3 · reviewed 2026-07-06

How it works

You receive an unsolicited email that claims the sender has recorded you in an embarrassing situation and threatens to send the video to your contacts unless you pay money (often in cryptocurrency or gift cards). The message may reference a real or fake password to sound convincing and create panic. The pressure is immediate and the threat feels personal, which is exactly what makes scammers send these emails in bulk—hoping someone will panic and pay.

Red flags

• An email from someone you don't know claiming to have intimate video of you
• A demand for payment in cryptocurrency, gift cards, or wire transfer to keep the material 'private'
• A real password from one of your accounts mentioned in the email (likely from a public data breach, not proof they have video)
• Pressure language like 'you have 24 hours' or threats to contact your family or employer

What to do

• Do not reply, do not pay, and do not send any money or gift cards.
• Delete the email and block the sender's address.
• Report the email to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov so authorities can track these threats.