Sextortion Campaign: Hackers Demand Money From Victims Or Else Leak ‘Private Moments Captured By Pegasus Spyware’

This week, cyber criminals began contacting people informing them that their iPhone had been hacked with a ‘zero-click’ vulnerability that allowed the Pegasus spying software to be installed.

Amnesty International and Forbidden Stories released a study last month that claimed Pegasus malware exploiting zero-day vulnerabilities in updated iPhones using zero-click exploits.

A zero-day vulnerability is one that a hacker discovers before the programme maker or users. A zero-click exploit is one that does not require user involvement to be exploited. A message or a phone call to the target’s device is sufficient to compromise.

And it has been alleged that governments all across the world are employing Pegasus spyware to eavesdrop on journalists, opposition politicians, and others.

The fraudster claims to have used Pegasus to track the recipient’s actions and to have recorded footage of them at “the most private moments” of their lives.

If a payment of 0.035 bitcoin (roughly $1,600) is not made, the threat actors will send the recordings to the recipient’s family, friends, and business associates.

Read the full text of this email below:

“Hi there

Hello, I’m going to share important information with you.

Have you heard about Pegasus?

You have become a collateral victim. It’s very important that you read the information below.

Your phone was penetrated with a “zero-click” attack, meaning you didn’t even need to click on a malicious link for your phone to be infected.

Pegasus is a malware that infects iPhones and Android devices and enables operators of the tool to extract messages, photos and emails,

record calls and secretly activate cameras or microphones, and read the contents of encrypted messaging apps such as WhatsApp, Facebook, Telegram and Signal.

Basically, it can spy on every aspect of your life. That’s precisely what it did.

I am a blackhat hacker and do this for a living. Unfortunately you are my victim. Please read on.

As you understand, I have used the malware capabilities to spy on you and harvested datas of your private life.

My only goal is to make money and I have perfect leverage for this.

As you can imagine in your worst dream, I have videos of you exposed during the most private moments of your life, when you are not expecting it.

I personally have no interest in them, but there are public websites that have perverts loving that content.

As I said, I only do this to make money and not trying to destroy your life. But if necessary, I will publish the videos.

If this is not enough for you, I will make sure your contacts, friends, business associates and everybody you know see those videos as well.

Here is the deal. I will delete the files after I receive 0.035 Bitcoin (about 1600 US Dollars).

You need to send that amount here bc1q7g8ny0p95pkuag0gay2lyl3m0emk65v5ug9uy7

I will also clear your device from malware, and you keep living your life.

Otherwise, shit will happen.

The fee is non-negotiable, to be transferred within 2 business days.

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 won’t hear from me ever again.

Take care.”