From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

Got this in an email a day or two ago.
To an email address I seldom use.
Thought I'd share...

http://vps.templar.co.uk/Odd%20stuff/Scam.gif
--
rCLIt is not the truth of Marxism that explains the willingness of intellectuals to believe it, but the power that it confers on
intellectuals, in their attempts to control the world. And since...it is futile to reason someone out of a thing that he was not reasoned into,
we can conclude that Marxism owes its remarkable power to survive every criticism to the fact that it is not a truth-directed but a
power-directed system of thought.rCY
Sir Roger Scruton
--- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

On 01/03/2026 12:28, The Natural Philosopher wrote:

Got this in an email a day or two ago.
To an email address I seldom use.
Thought I'd share...

http://vps.templar.co.uk/Odd%20stuff/Scam.gif

Well I'm convinced
--- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

In message <10o1bd1$6aac$4@dont-email.me>, The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> writes

Got this in an email a day or two ago.
To an email address I seldom use.
Thought I'd share...

http://vps.templar.co.uk/Odd%20stuff/Scam.gif

I I had a fiver for every one of those I've had ...

And usually to addresses that only get used by spammers.

Adrian
--
To Reply :
replace "diy" with "news" and reverse the domain

If you are reading this from a web interface e.g. DIY Banter or DIY Forum, please be aware this is NOT a forum, and you are merely using a web portal
to a USENET group. Many people block posters coming from web portals due to perceieved SPAM or inaneness.
For a better method of access, please see:

http://wiki.diyfaq.org.uk/index.php?title=Usenet
--- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

On Sun, 1 Mar 2026 12:28:16 +0000
The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> wrote:

Got this in an email a day or two ago.
To an email address I seldom use.
Thought I'd share...

http://vps.templar.co.uk/Odd%20stuff/Scam.gif

Even funnier when I do all my web surfing from a computer that has
neither camera nor microphone fitted...

Actually, it's probably about six months since I last saw one of these.
--
Joe

--- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

On 01/03/2026 13:17, David Paste wrote:

On 01/03/2026 12:28, The Natural Philosopher wrote:

Got this in an email a day or two ago.
To an email address I seldom use.
Thought I'd share...

http://vps.templar.co.uk/Odd%20stuff/Scam.gif

Well I'm convinced

Yep the pictures are all over Facebook, and Youtube.
--
mailto : news {at} admac {dot} myzen {dot} co {dot} uk
--- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

On 01/03/2026 14:37, Joe wrote:

On Sun, 1 Mar 2026 12:28:16 +0000
The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> wrote:

Got this in an email a day or two ago.
To an email address I seldom use.
Thought I'd share...

http://vps.templar.co.uk/Odd%20stuff/Scam.gif

Even funnier when I do all my web surfing from a computer that has
neither camera nor microphone fitted...

Well mine has a camera and microphone, but under linux it isnt enabled
unless O specifically allow it///and then a light comes on

Actually, it's probably about six months since I last saw one of these.

This one was from Russia
--
The theory of Communism may be summed up in one sentence: Abolish all
private property.

Karl Marx


--- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

On 01/03/2026 14:51, alan_m wrote:

On 01/03/2026 13:17, David Paste wrote:

On 01/03/2026 12:28, The Natural Philosopher wrote:

Got this in an email a day or two ago.
To an email address I seldom use.
Thought I'd share...

http://vps.templar.co.uk/Odd%20stuff/Scam.gif

Well I'm convinced

Yep the pictures are all over Facebook, and Youtube.

Is he right or left handed? ;-)
--
Jeff
--- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

On 01/03/2026 12:28, The Natural Philosopher wrote:

Got this in an email a day or two ago.
To an email address I seldom use.
Thought I'd share...

http://vps.templar.co.uk/Odd%20stuff/Scam.gif

People complain about AI, but this is what it said about your gif,
entirely unprompted by me:

This message is a standard sextortion scam, not evidence of any real compromise. Nothing in it indicates that your device, accounts, or
camera were actually accessed. These scams are massrCasent, formulaic, and rely entirely on fear, not technical capability.

What this message actually is
A bulkrCasent extortion template. The same text, typos, and Bitcoin
address appear in thousands of reports.

Claims of rCLdriverrCabased malwarerCY, rCL4rCahourly signature refreshrCY, and
rCLvideo compilationrCY are technically incoherent and used only to intimidate.

The sender has no proof of compromise. If they had real material, they
would attach a sample or reference something specific.

The Bitcoin address is used because it is untraceable, not because they
expect a reply.



--- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

On 01/03/2026 16:48, GB wrote:

On 01/03/2026 12:28, The Natural Philosopher wrote:

Got this in an email a day or two ago.
To an email address I seldom use.
Thought I'd share...

http://vps.templar.co.uk/Odd%20stuff/Scam.gif

People complain about AI, but this is what it said about your gif,
entirely unprompted by me:

This message is a standard sextortion scam, not evidence of any real compromise. Nothing in it indicates that your device, accounts, or
camera were actually accessed. These scams are massrCasent, formulaic, and rely entirely on fear, not technical capability.

What this message actually is
A bulkrCasent extortion template. The same text, typos, and Bitcoin
address appear in thousands of reports.

Claims of rCLdriverrCabased malwarerCY, rCL4rCahourly signature refreshrCY, and
rCLvideo compilationrCY are technically incoherent and used only to intimidate.

The sender has no proof of compromise. If they had real material, they
would attach a sample or reference something specific.

I think we already knew that...this one is incoherent in its idiocy...

The Bitcoin address is used because it is untraceable, not because they expect a reply.

well if only one in a thousands sends the cash, its a winner...


--
The higher up the mountainside
The greener grows the grass.
The higher up the monkey climbs
The more he shows his arse.

Traditional

--- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

On Sun, 1 Mar 2026 16:48:50 +0000, GB <NOTsomeone@microsoft.invalid>
wrote:

On 01/03/2026 12:28, The Natural Philosopher wrote:

Got this in an email a day or two ago.
To an email address I seldom use.
Thought I'd share...

http://vps.templar.co.uk/Odd%20stuff/Scam.gif

People complain about AI, but this is what it said about your gif,
entirely unprompted by me:

This message is a standard sextortion scam, not evidence of any real >compromise. Nothing in it indicates that your device, accounts, or
camera were actually accessed. These scams are mass?sent, formulaic, and >rely entirely on fear, not technical capability.

What this message actually is
A bulk?sent extortion template. The same text, typos, and Bitcoin
address appear in thousands of reports.

Claims of odriver?based malwareo, o4?hourly signature refresho, and
ovideo compilationo are technically incoherent and used only to intimidate.

The sender has no proof of compromise. If they had real material, they
would attach a sample or reference something specific.

The Bitcoin address is used because it is untraceable, not because they >expect a reply.

So the whole thing's a scam? I wish you'd said that before I caved in
and paid. I always knew that unfortunate habit of mine would get me
caught out one day. Does anyone know if it's possible to cancel a
postal order? ;-)
--- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

On 01/03/2026 17:07, The Natural Philosopher wrote:

On 01/03/2026 16:48, GB wrote:

On 01/03/2026 12:28, The Natural Philosopher wrote:

Got this in an email a day or two ago.
To an email address I seldom use.
Thought I'd share...

http://vps.templar.co.uk/Odd%20stuff/Scam.gif

People complain about AI, but this is what it said about your gif,
entirely unprompted by me:

This message is a standard sextortion scam, not evidence of any real
compromise. Nothing in it indicates that your device, accounts, or
camera were actually accessed. These scams are massrCasent, formulaic,
and rely entirely on fear, not technical capability.

What this message actually is
A bulkrCasent extortion template. The same text, typos, and Bitcoin
address appear in thousands of reports.

Claims of rCLdriverrCabased malwarerCY, rCL4rCahourly signature refreshrCY, and
rCLvideo compilationrCY are technically incoherent and used only to
intimidate.

The sender has no proof of compromise. If they had real material, they
would attach a sample or reference something specific.

I think we already knew that...this one is incoherent in its idiocy...

The Bitcoin address is used because it is untraceable, not because
they expect a reply.

well if only one in a thousands sends the cash, its a winner...

I don't know how email providers filter spam these days. I'm quite
surprised that you received that message into your inbox, as it's clear
a decent AI based filter can spot the scam a mile off.

If 99% of the messages are never seen by a human, because they are
filtered by the email provider, then your 1 in thousand requires 100,000
to be sent, and the cost of obtaining the email address and sending the
emails may start to become rather significant.

--- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

On Sun, 3/1/2026 10:25 AM, The Natural Philosopher wrote:

On 01/03/2026 14:37, Joe wrote:

On Sun, 1 Mar 2026 12:28:16 +0000
The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> wrote:

Got this in an email a day or two ago.
To an email address I seldom use.
Thought I'd share...

http://vps.templar.co.uk/Odd%20stuff/Scam.gif

Even funnier when I do all my web surfing from a computer that has
neither camera nor microphone fitted...

Well mine has a camera and microphone, but under linux it isnt enabled unless O specifically allow it///and then a light comes on

Actually, it's probably about six months since I last saw one of these.

This one was from Russia

I hope you're aware about that light.

It was believed at first, that the LED indication
on webcams truly indicated their run state. Then
someone who actually knew how it worked, pointed out
it's just a GPIO that can be separately flicked on and
off. If you "exploit" a webcam, it can record without
the LED showing.

In a quick Google, this is an example of someone who did the
work to find out.

"... but I've surveyed the SN9C292A and SN9C271M (both made by Sonix),
both of which have GPIOs that can be used for such an LED. They don't
have a hardware-controlled activity LED, however."

You really should put tape over the camera, just like Zuck :-)

Some cameras work "properly", and some... do not.

Paul

--- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

On Sun, 3/1/2026 11:48 AM, GB wrote:

On 01/03/2026 12:28, The Natural Philosopher wrote:

Got this in an email a day or two ago.
To an email address I seldom use.
Thought I'd share...

http://vps.templar.co.uk/Odd%20stuff/Scam.gif

People complain about AI, but this is what it said about your gif, entirely unprompted by me:

This message is a standard sextortion scam, not evidence of any real compromise. Nothing in it indicates that your device, accounts, or camera were actually accessed. These scams are massrCasent, formulaic, and rely entirely on fear, not technical capability.

What this message actually is
A bulkrCasent extortion template. The same text, typos, and Bitcoin address appear in thousands of reports.

Claims of rCLdriverrCabased malwarerCY, rCL4rCahourly signature refreshrCY, and rCLvideo compilationrCY are technically incoherent and used only to intimidate.

The sender has no proof of compromise. If they had real material, they would attach a sample or reference something specific.

The Bitcoin address is used because it is untraceable, not because they expect a reply.

Claims of "driverrCabased malware" is coherent.
But, it also identifies that this careful individual
thinks the victim is on a Windows box. That's not
going to work on the BeOS the OP uses.

There is a class of drivers that are "exploitable".
Microsoft identified a bunch of them. For example,
Windows Defender popped up a notification and told
me to remove the Asus AISuite driver in the system32
folder. And this was actually a driver installed when
it was a previous OS, and other OSes were installed as
an upgrade. The driver was "in" the OS, but wasn't being
used, so I could easily agree with the Notification
and remove it.

For a Windows user, the working of the Notification is
different than the normal Windows Defender response.
Windows Defender would normally identify a threat by
a signature, and remove it for you ("quarantine"). But
since the driver in question is not a malware, but
merely an attack surface, Windows Defender does not
just grab it and run. Instead, there is a different
Notification alerting you to the issue.

And I think this scam is a bit on the old side.
This example is six years old. There is probably an
assumption of a Windows user here as well. The language
in this one seems more of a foreigner.

https://www.imss.caltech.edu/services/security/issues/scams/sextortion-scam

And it's not the work of a Nigerian. They would be
more polite and formal. There would be oil princes
and unicorns.

From 2024.

https://krebsonsecurity.com/2024/09/sextortion-scams-now-include-photos-of-your-home/

Looks like a good business to be in, even if as
an operator, your "bombing technique" needs some work.

Paul

--- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

On 01/03/2026 17:54, GB wrote:

On 01/03/2026 17:07, The Natural Philosopher wrote:

On 01/03/2026 16:48, GB wrote:

On 01/03/2026 12:28, The Natural Philosopher wrote:

Got this in an email a day or two ago.
To an email address I seldom use.
Thought I'd share...

http://vps.templar.co.uk/Odd%20stuff/Scam.gif

People complain about AI, but this is what it said about your gif,
entirely unprompted by me:

This message is a standard sextortion scam, not evidence of any real
compromise. Nothing in it indicates that your device, accounts, or
camera were actually accessed. These scams are massrCasent, formulaic,
and rely entirely on fear, not technical capability.

What this message actually is
A bulkrCasent extortion template. The same text, typos, and Bitcoin
address appear in thousands of reports.

Claims of rCLdriverrCabased malwarerCY, rCL4rCahourly signature refreshrCY, and
rCLvideo compilationrCY are technically incoherent and used only to
intimidate.

The sender has no proof of compromise. If they had real material,
they would attach a sample or reference something specific.

I think we already knew that...this one is incoherent in its idiocy...

The Bitcoin address is used because it is untraceable, not because
they expect a reply.

well if only one in a thousands sends the cash, its a winner...

I don't know how email providers filter spam these days. I'm quite
surprised that you received that message into your inbox, as it's clear
a decent AI based filter can spot the scam a mile off.

I *am* the email provider. :-)

I run some spam shit, but there is alwaqys a new one

If 99% of the messages are never seen by a human, because they are
filtered by the email provider, then your 1 in thousand requires 100,000
to be sent, and the cost of obtaining the email address and sending the emails may start to become rather significant.

Its a well constructed email. That's why they used an image.
--
The urge to save humanity is almost always a false front for the urge to
rule.
rCo H. L. Mencken, American journalist, 1880-1956

--- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

On 02/03/2026 04:38, Paul wrote:

On Sun, 3/1/2026 10:25 AM, The Natural Philosopher wrote:

On 01/03/2026 14:37, Joe wrote:

On Sun, 1 Mar 2026 12:28:16 +0000
The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> wrote:

Got this in an email a day or two ago.
To an email address I seldom use.
Thought I'd share...

http://vps.templar.co.uk/Odd%20stuff/Scam.gif

Even funnier when I do all my web surfing from a computer that has
neither camera nor microphone fitted...

Well mine has a camera and microphone, but under linux it isnt enabled unless O specifically allow it///and then a light comes on

Actually, it's probably about six months since I last saw one of these.

This one was from Russia

I hope you're aware about that light.

It was believed at first, that the LED indication
on webcams truly indicated their run state. Then
someone who actually knew how it worked, pointed out
it's just a GPIO that can be separately flicked on and
off. If you "exploit" a webcam, it can record without
the LED showing.

In a quick Google, this is an example of someone who did the
work to find out.

"... but I've surveyed the SN9C292A and SN9C271M (both made by Sonix),
both of which have GPIOs that can be used for such an LED. They don't
have a hardware-controlled activity LED, however."

You really should put tape over the camera, just like Zuck :-)

Its OK. I don't wank in front of the computer. Or go to porn sites. And
I wouldn't care if I did. I have no reputation to lose.


It's a Logitech USB webcam - I don't think it can be hacked to be
active without the light on.

And certainly not by any windows virus

Some cameras work "properly", and some... do not.

Generally the problem is to get it working at all...

Paul

--
Ideas are more powerful than guns. We would not let our enemies have
guns, why should we let them have ideas?

Josef Stalin

--- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

On 02/03/2026 in message <10o3ihp$vs0q$2@dont-email.me> The Natural Philosopher wrote:

Its OK. I don't wank in front of the computer. Or go to porn sites. And I >wouldn't care if I did. I have no reputation to lose.

I have to say I feel quite flattered when I get one of these emails at the thought I still could at my age :-)
--
Jeff Gaines Dorset UK
I take full responsibility for what happened - that is why the person that
was responsible went immediately.
(Gordon Brown, April 2009)
--- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

On 02/03/2026 08:37, The Natural Philosopher wrote:

If 99% of the messages are never seen by a human, because they are
filtered by the email provider, then your 1 in thousand requires
100,000 to be sent, and the cost of obtaining the email address and
sending the emails may start to become rather significant.

Its a well constructed email. That's why they used an image.

The AI I used (Copilot) read the image text without any apparent
difficulty.
--- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2