'Your local network has been compromised' Email Scam

A new email tactic is gaining popularity online, and, unfortunately, it may scare many of its targets into paying a ransom fee that they should not accept to pay. Con artists are sending out a mass email message, which tells victims that their local network has been compromised, and the senders have obtained pornographic materials by exploiting the cameras of their devices. The criminals include a long explanation of how their 'attack' happened and even tell the victims why their anti-virus software has not helped. Finally, they list their demands – they threaten to release the pornographic footage on the Internet and send a link to all of the victim's contacts unless they receive a ransom payment. The crooks behind the 'Your local network has been compromised' email scam want to be paid $500 via Bitcoin.

Low-effort tactics of this sort have become more common in the past year, so it seems that some con artists are making money out of it. If you ever see an email extorting you for payment by threatening to release pornographic pictures and videos of you, then you should know that this blackmailing attempt is fake, and you should not fall for it.