Third-Party
Since lots of Ozbargain users are also shopback users I thought I'd post this warning.
Due to the email leak from Shopback a while ago, our Shopback email addresses will be targeted by scammers now.
I use a fully separate email account for every service I sign up so I can see which sites are spamming me, break ties with them, etc.
This morning, the one I used for Shopback received the following email.
If you get this email too, trust me, these "hackers" DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO YOUR COMPUTER, MICROPHONE, or CAMERA.
You can safely ignore these scam emails, but there's not much you can do to stop them other than clicking the spam report button.
It's worth putting your email address in here to see which sites you used have been compromised: https://haveibeenpwned.com/
I am sorry to inform you that your device was compromised.
I'll explain what led to all of this. I have used a Zero Day vulnerability with a special code to infect your device through a website.
This is a complicated software that requires precise skills that I have. It works as a chain with specially crafted and unique code and that’s why this type of an attack can go undetected.
You only need one not patched vulnerability to be infected, and unfortunately for you – it works that simple.You were not targeted specifically, but just became one of the quite a few unlucky people who got hacked that day.
All of this happened a few month ago. So I’ve had time to collect information on you.I think you already know what is going to happen next.
During that time, my software was quietly collecting information about your habits, websites that you visit, searches you do, texts you send.
There is more to it, but I have listed a few reasons for you to understand how serious this is.For you to clearly understand, my software controlled your camera and microphone as well and it was impossible for you to know about it.
It was just about right timing for me to get you privacy violated.I’ve been waiting enough and have decided that it’s time to put an end to this.
So here is my offer. I need a consulting fee to delete the media content I have been collecting.
Your privacy stays untouched, if I get paid.
Otherwise, I will leak the most damaging content to your contacts and post it to a public tube for perverts to explore.I understand how damaging this will be for you, and amount is not that big for you to keep your privacy.
Please dont blame me – we all have different ways of making a living.I have no intention of destroying your reputation or life, but only if I get paid.
I don’t care about you personally, that's why you can be sure that all files I have and software on your device will be deleted immediately after I receive the transfer.
I only care about getting paid.My modest consulting fee is 1650 US Dollars transferred in Bitcoin. Exchange rate at the time of the transfer.
You need to send that amount to this wallet: <Omitted>The fee is non negotiable, to be transferred within 2 business days.
We use Bitcoin to protect my identity.Obviously do not try to ask for any help from anybody unless you want your privacy to be violated.
I will monitor your every move until I get paid. If you keep your end of the agreement, you wont hear from me ever again.Take care.
That $3 "sorry" hand out they gave everyone after their data breach, hope it was worth it.