PUBLIC Forum and personal information (ICYMI)

[PozBearWI]

I've experienced that as well @ellentonboy.  But I hadn't previously blocked the idiot.  My suite of security software was ahead of it for me.  I wouldn't even have known except I periodically go in and empty spam, and scroll through the list to make sure there are no unintentional items in spam.  Note though, just because it appears to be "from" a known person, there is a reason my software put it in spam.  So I use care to see whether that really came from my buddy Ron; or someone pretending to be him.  

[PozBearWI]

The other thing that started a couple weeks back are phone calls from a friendly sounding lady telling me about my back taxes....  Had I owed back taxes I would of course have already known from a letter from the IRS.  

Each call gets noted as a spam call blocking further calls from that number.  But sure as shit a few hours or a day later the exact same voice is calling me about my purportedly back taxes from a different number.  So far in the last month there have been at least 50 of these....  

[sluttony]

17 hours ago, ellentonboy said:

It's ironic to me that this post telling us to be careful was the first thing I read this morning when I logged on.

Over the weekend I received an email from a guy demanding $1700 and that it needed to be deposited into some kind of crypto currency account.  He actually started off with  "Hello Pervert" and said he had video of me jerking off to "questionable" pornography.  He said he had access to all my contacts and would send out videos of me, and that I better not go to the "coppers" (that was his word, not mine) or else he would know and all my information would be released.

He gave me the name of where to send it, along with an account number that had to be 50 digits long.  You can't respond, or reply.  Funny thing is, the email went to my junk file and it had a red "blocked" icon next to it, so obviously he had tried this with me before.

I wanted to tell him he was welcome to send out any fake videos he has of me, I don't turn on web cams and jack off to kiddie porn or anything like that.  He said I made my error by clicking on a link and he was able to send a virus through my computer and attach it to my phones and all my other devices.  I highly doubt this.

Has anyone else experienced this lately?  I get the impression, just by the way he worded his email and certain icons he used, that the threat came from Europe or outside the US.  I really am not concerned, but it did come to my main email address that contains my legal name, that was the only thing that alarmed me.

Anyone have a similar experience as of late?

This is such an old scare tactic now. The more clever ones also have a password associated with your email account and whether or not it's the one for your computer/email etc or not isn't the point - it's designed to scare people into believing that the extortionist has somehow gained access to your computer.

Which is never the case.

There is not even any point responding because all that does is shows them that that particular email is indeed alive and in use.

Just block, ignore and walk away. 

[sluttony]

16 hours ago, PozBearWI said:

The other thing that started a couple weeks back are phone calls from a friendly sounding lady telling me about my back taxes....  Had I owed back taxes I would of course have already known from a letter from the IRS.  

Each call gets noted as a spam call blocking further calls from that number.  But sure as shit a few hours or a day later the exact same voice is calling me about my purportedly back taxes from a different number.  So far in the last month there have been at least 50 of these....  

These are quite common in the UK as well though usually for things like cavity wall insulation and/or solar panels. Sometimes pretending to be from banks etc but rarely the tax man.

It's more difficult for them now than it used to be. The common tactic was to steal a purse or a wallet with cards in, ideally with some kind of ID then track down a phone number. It used to be fairly easy to mask a phone number on SIP providers to make it look like the call was coming from the victims actual bank.

The scammers would even then say "but hey, don't take my word for it... call us back on your banks number from a bank statement" because it used to be that you needed a CPC signal to the exchange - Calling Party Cleared... i.e. the call only dropped if the person who made the outgoing call hung up, not the called party. The scammers then popped you on silent hold, waited until they heard numbers being dialled and pretended to be the bank again.

Both number masking and CPC were stopped some time ago so that it's much more difficult for that kind of bullshit now but they still try.

[Shotsfired]

So here's the thing. At some point a group of hackers broke into a website and stole a bunch of information like passwords, login info excetera

They are usually from Russia,  but can be from any where. They then sell that information on the dark web to scammers.

Chances are he didn't have everything he claimed to have. Its like those phone calls where they pretend to be government agents who want to arrest you. 

They are looking for easy targets. They aren't going to waste their time on following thru.  They probably have a hefty list of potential victims. 

Tell them to fuck off.

[Shotsfired]

Basically, its like muggers. They aren't going to mess with the big guy who is aware off his surroundings and confident.  They are going to target the drunk guy who is tiny and not paying attentions,  especially if the guy doesn't present ss confident. They want the easy mark.

People actually often have a hand in their own victimization.  The gay kids in high school who didn't act like being gay was a big deal where left alone and often popular even if they were open. 

The kids who had a chip on their shoulder,  felt less than,  and complained to the teachers where bullied.  Sometimes ruthlessly. Often I would step in to help break something up.  I told one kid to stop apologizing for who he is and just own it.  He had nothing to feel ashamed or apologize for. We hung out for a while until he figured out how not to participate in the cycle of abuse.

The same with these blackmaillers. They can tell by the way  you react if they are going to get anything.  If they aren't they move on. 

[gimpsub69]

5 hours ago, Shotsfired said:

Basically, its like muggers. They aren't going to mess with the big guy who is aware off his surroundings and confident.  They are going to target the drunk guy who is tiny and not paying attentions,  especially if the guy doesn't present ss confident. They want the easy mark.

People actually often have a hand in their own victimization.  The gay kids in high school who didn't act like being gay was a big deal where left alone and often popular even if they were open. 

The kids who had a chip on their shoulder,  felt less than,  and complained to the teachers where bullied.  Sometimes ruthlessly. Often I would step in to help break something up.  I told one kid to stop apologizing for who he is and just own it.  He had nothing to feel ashamed or apologize for. We hung out for a while until he figured out how not to participate in the cycle of abuse.

The same with these blackmaillers. They can tell by the way  you react if they are going to get anything.  If they aren't they move on. 

I love when someone threatens to express me by blackmail. I just share where I can be found on Google search and they aren't going to do anything worse. They block me immediately 

[ellentonboy]

On 12/2/2024 at 11:11 AM, PozBearWI said:

The other thing that started a couple weeks back are phone calls from a friendly sounding lady telling me about my back taxes....  Had I owed back taxes I would of course have already known from a letter from the IRS.  

Each call gets noted as a spam call blocking further calls from that number.  But sure as shit a few hours or a day later the exact same voice is calling me about my purportedly back taxes from a different number.  So far in the last month there have been at least 50 of these....  

You are right regarding the IRS, and I hope more posters will understand that.

I had worked for the Internal Revenue Service after I got out of college.   One of the first things they taught us once employed was that, in almost any situation, they NEVER call individuals who owe taxes.  They will continually send letters, then certified letters, and then they start garnishment procedures.  Once that begins, taxpayers can open a telephone dialogue with an agent who is about to take their possessions from them (i.e. their cars, homes, big ticket items).

But for someone who may not have filed, or know they owe back taxes, you won't get some random call from a polite individual who claims they work for the IRS, who offers to help you satisfy your back tax situation.  It just doesn't work that way.

I am glad you mentioned this because I do know of individuals who have been approached in this manner and these people are basically criminals.

[TaKinGDeePanal]

On 12/3/2024 at 2:03 AM, ellentonboy said:

It's ironic to me that this post telling us to be careful was the first thing I read this morning when I logged on.

Over the weekend I received an email from a guy demanding $1700 and that it needed to be deposited into some kind of crypto currency account.  He actually started off with  "Hello Pervert" and said he had video of me jerking off to "questionable" pornography.  He said he had access to all my contacts and would send out videos of me, and that I better not go to the "coppers" (that was his word, not mine) or else he would know and all my information would be released.

He gave me the name of where to send it, along with an account number that had to be 50 digits long.  You can't respond, or reply.  Funny thing is, the email went to my junk file and it had a red "blocked" icon next to it, so obviously he had tried this with me before.

I wanted to tell him he was welcome to send out any fake videos he has of me, I don't turn on web cams and jack off to kiddie porn or anything like that.  He said I made my error by clicking on a link and he was able to send a virus through my computer and attach it to my phones and all my other devices.  I highly doubt this.

Has anyone else experienced this lately?  I get the impression, just by the way he worded his email and certain icons he used, that the threat came from Europe or outside the US.  I really am not concerned, but it did come to my main email address that contains my legal name, that was the only thing that alarmed me.

Anyone have a similar experience as of late?

I got pretty much exactly the same one a couple of months ago. Was told that if I googled him that it would send an automatic alert to him and that he’d release everything he had. Idiot doesn’t know that I don’t click on links that are sent to me in emails unless I know the sender. 
 

I ended up deleting it - and (I think) blocking the address. Nothing heard from him since. I only every email offer people from this site who I haven’t met through protonmail. 

[hntnhole]

Another thing that can help when (using the laptop) is using a VPN.  I've used one of those for years - and anyone who get's ahold of an email address thinks I live a thousand miles away.  Some of them (the VPN's) are free.  

One time though, some jerk figured it out, so I gave him the address (a thousand miles away) of a vacant lot.  Had one of my friends back there find a vacant lot, figure out what the address* would be, and that took care of it.  

What I wonder though, is how many telephone numbers can we block?  I get phone calls all day long from charities trying to raise money, some of which I respond to, most of which I don't.  There must be a couple hundred numbers on the phone by now that I've blocked ... 

*not a difficult thing to do - all the addresses were 4 numbers away (plus or minus) by the city lot.  

One more thing;  BZ is a public forum, so if the winners of the election come looking for folks to bother ...... well ....... 

[phillygwm]

On 12/2/2024 at 10:03 AM, ellentonboy said:

Over the weekend I received an email from a guy demanding $1700 and that it needed to be deposited into some kind of crypto currency account.  He actually started off with  "Hello Pervert" and said he had video of me jerking off to "questionable" pornography.  He said he had access to all my contacts and would send out videos of me, and that I better not go to the "coppers" (that was his word, not mine) or else he would know and all my information would be released.

Yep, it happened to me, and the email listed a password I once used that was on the Dark Web.  It's all BS but the first time I received the email I did panic a bit.

This is the world we live in, for better or worse.  I'll probably have free credit monitoring for the rest of my life at the rate my data are being compromised.  As paranoid as it sounds, we have to assume someone is watching/reading virtually everything we do.  Certainly, that's going to be the case here.  Even the FBI just warned people to use encrypted apps, since texts can't be considered secure.

As for this board, specifically,  I'm new.  Are there things I'd change if I were in charge?  Sure:  I'm frustrated that I only get a few posts a day, for instance.  But I broadly understand why the rule exists.  And ultimately, he who pays the bills makes the rules.  We can make recommendations and I'm sure those are at least read and considered, but knowing the rules, our choice is to stay here recognizing potential risks or to not come back.  Since I know my stuff is going to be visible here, I try to take a few precautions (I.e. not using my primary email account.)   

If I ever did something seriously illegal -- and sorry, I'm just not that exciting -- I certainly wouldn't post about it here....or anywhere.   Many years ago, I had a friend of a friend was arrested (and did time) for downloading pics he shouldn't have.  I'm sure he didn't bother using a VPN, he may have even used his credit card on the site.  He was older (this was 20+ years ago, I believe he's dead now) and not a techie, so I'm sure he didn't consider that stuff gets tracked.  

[ellentonboy]

On 12/7/2024 at 11:56 AM, phillygwm said:

Yep, it happened to me, and the email listed a password I once used that was on the Dark Web.  It's all BS but the first time I received the email I did panic a bit.

This is the world we live in, for better or worse.  I'll probably have free credit monitoring for the rest of my life at the rate my data are being compromised.  As paranoid as it sounds, we have to assume someone is watching/reading virtually everything we do.  Certainly, that's going to be the case here.  Even the FBI just warned people to use encrypted apps, since texts can't be considered secure.

As for this board, specifically,  I'm new.  Are there things I'd change if I were in charge?  Sure:  I'm frustrated that I only get a few posts a day, for instance.  But I broadly understand why the rule exists.  And ultimately, he who pays the bills makes the rules.  We can make recommendations and I'm sure those are at least read and considered, but knowing the rules, our choice is to stay here recognizing potential risks or to not come back.  Since I know my stuff is going to be visible here, I try to take a few precautions (I.e. not using my primary email account.)   

If I ever did something seriously illegal -- and sorry, I'm just not that exciting -- I certainly wouldn't post about it here....or anywhere.   Many years ago, I had a friend of a friend was arrested (and did time) for downloading pics he shouldn't have.  I'm sure he didn't bother using a VPN, he may have even used his credit card on the site.  He was older (this was 20+ years ago, I believe he's dead now) and not a techie, so I'm sure he didn't consider that stuff gets tracked.  

Ironically, I received another one this morning.  Stating all of the same demands and what he would do to me.

You mentioned the Dark Web,  Well I received a letter from my former employer that my personnel file and background check had been compromised.  I was given a credit protection service called MyIDCare.  I believe I have free protection for the next five years.  But here is the downside, when I called and spoke with them, they did a search and found my social security number and all my identifying information on the Dark Web.  I had to freeze all three credit reporting agencies and if I want to apply for credit, or even move, I would have to unlock them.  I get these "threats" maybe every six months and I have taken the advice of both posters on here and the people at MyIDCare not to worry, that is is basically a fishing expedition and they probably don't have access to my phone or computers, they just have my email address which does contain  my legal name.  I use a gmail address for fun sites like this, but my apple email contains my name.  When it comes to my credit, I will have to monitor and keep my credit reports frozen for years, if not my entire life.  That is the downside.

I have a VPN though  I am not sure how that will protect me.  Like you, I have the two email addresses, but the threats have come to my primary email and that really upset me.

All I can say is be vigilant, and use common sense.  When it comes to "fun" online forums like this, I use my secondary email to open the account.

Welcome to BZ btw, I noticed you are from Philadelphia,  I was born and raised there, went to college there.  I live in Florida now, but I do miss Philadelphia....

[phillygwm]

10 hours ago, ellentonboy said:

But here is the downside, when I called and spoke with them, they did a search and found my social security number and all my identifying information on the Dark Web.  I had to freeze all three credit reporting agencies and if I want to apply for credit, or even move, I would have to unlock them.

Yep, that's what I did.  I have a very good FICO score and plenty of credit cards.  Occasionally, I'll cancel one I rarely use and pick up another that seems like it would suit me better.  I'll unfreeze for a few days then freeze it back.  It's a pain but a necessary concession to the world we live in.

[ejaculaTe]

On 12/2/2024 at 10:03 AM, ellentonboy said:

Over the weekend I received an email from a guy demanding $1700 and that it needed to be deposited into some kind of crypto currency account

I received one of those emails earlier this week, sent to an email address I seldom use. I knew I had read something about the email, but I couldn’t recall where.  I opened it to make sure it was the demand I recalled reading about. I deleted it and proceeded to make breakfast and feed the dog. 

[Willing]

On 6/9/2022 at 6:46 PM, viking8x6 said:

The moderation staff has recently been receiving a few reports of people's personal information posted here on BZ being used to blackmail them.

Just a reminder: It's not against the rules for you to post personal information. However, please remember BZ is a public forum, and anything you post here is freely viewable to anyone on the Internet. So it may be inadvisable to post personal or other identifying information here unless you're comfortable with the world knowing about it in the context of our delightfully tawdry content.

We are happy to remove personal information that you've posted. Just report the post in question. If you are not a member, please include in the report text a way for us to confirm that you were the person who posted it.

Also, remember that even if we remove information, any past viewings of it, by other people or by "spider" or archiving engines (such as Google), are done and cannot be reversed.

Well the way you hawk eye me i shouldn't have to worry. 🙂

BTW,  when I post I'm not paying attention,  I'm just posting,  sorry I post in the wrong place and maybe offend someone, yall restrict me when I do but I don't post it in the wrong place on purpose. If you'd message me when you see that I did something wrong I'll delete it instead of being put on restrictions like a child  for a week.