Stay Safe from Pegasus Email Scams: Essential Info

What is the Pegasus Email Scam and How Does it Work?

The Pegasus email scam is a large scam where criminals send scary emails to try to make you pay them in cryptocurrency, like Bitcoin or Litecoin. In these emails, they falsely claim that they have hacked your phone using Pegasus spyware. They then threaten to expose embarrassing videos or audio if you don’t pay.

The threat is frightening because Pegasus is known for being powerful spyware that can secretly access your messages, calls, photos, videos, and even your phone’s camera and microphone without you knowing.

Since Pegasus works secretly, it’s easy to believe the scam emails, especially if they look convincing.

What Are Pegasus Scam Emails?

Pegasus scam emails are designed to scare you into paying a ransom. The scammers often include your name, phone number, and address in the email to make their threats seem more believable. They might even include a photo of your home to make the threat feel more urgent.

Usually, these emails claim to have recorded explicit content using malware on your device, such as videos and audio from adult websites. They then threaten to share these recordings with your family, friends, and other contacts if you don’t pay.

Common features of Pegasus scam emails include:

• Your personal information, like your phone number or email address.
• A claim that the criminals have hacked your phone.
• A threat to expose explicit material.
• A demand for ransom money.
• An address or QR code for sending cryptocurrency.

Here are some examples of these scam emails.

Examples of Pegasus Scam Emails

Here are some examples of Pegasus scam emails. Notice the poor grammar and spelling, which is a sign of a scam.

Pegasus Scam Email Example No. 1

First Name,

I know XXX-6573 is very personal, and you must be wondering why you are getting this email.

I placed Pegasus spyware on a website, and you visited that site. While you were on that site, my software got access to your screen and camera. I collected all your information and contacts, including your photos.

I have a video showing you on the site and another from your camera. I will delete everything if you pay me. You have two choices: ignore this email or pay me a small amount.

If you ignore it, I will send your videos to everyone you know. If you pay, I will keep your secret. You need to pay $4950 in Bitcoin. Here is the address to send the money: 12PY3MibuWtNHjszG4xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx. You have one day to pay. If you don’t pay, I will share your videos. If you want proof, reply with “yes!” and I will send the video to your friends. Do not waste my time by replying to this email. If I see suspicious activity, I will share your videos early.

Pegasus Scam Email Example No. 2

You have been hacked

Hello,

I’ve sent this message from your iCloud mail.

You have a problem. You can fix it if you act wisely.

Have you heard of Pegasus? It’s spyware that can monitor your devices. I installed it on your devices months ago. I’ve recorded videos of you on adult sites. I can send these videos to everyone you know.

I want $850 in Litecoin. Once I get the money, I will delete the videos and remove Pegasus from your devices. You have 48 hours to send the money. If you don’t know how to buy Litecoin, just search online.

Do not reply to this email. Do not contact the police. Do not try to destroy your devices. I am watching you. Cryptocurrency is anonymous, so I won’t be identified.

Good luck.

Pegasus Scam Email Example No. 3

Hello,

Have you heard about Pegasus?

You are a victim. Your phone was infected with a “zero-click” attack. Pegasus can spy on your messages, photos, and calls, and activate your camera and microphone.

I have collected private videos of you. I only want money. I will publish the videos if you don’t pay. Send 0.035 Bitcoin (about $1600) to the address: 1AXNYLDEG5YEzc2eyUh7SUYYKeRUaRwseu. I will also remove Pegasus from your device. You have two business days to pay.

Do not seek help from others or try to reset your devices. I will monitor you until I get paid. If you pay, you won’t hear from me again.

How Did Hackers Get Your Data?

Hackers usually get your data from previous data breaches. For example, if your information was stolen from an online store where you registered, it might be sold on the dark web. Scammers use this stolen data to trick you.

How to Protect Yourself from a Pegasus Email Scam

To protect yourself, ignore any suspicious emails claiming your device has been hacked and demanding money. Do not interact with these emails, click on links, download attachments, or scan QR codes.

If you get a Pegasus email, block it and report it to your email provider. Then, delete it.

Be proactive about your online safety. Update your passwords regularly and use a password manager to keep strong, unique passwords.

Consider using a VPN to protect your online activities. A VPN encrypts your data, making it harder for anyone to steal your information. Even with good security, there’s still a slight chance of a breach, so using tools like NordVPN’s Dark Web Monitor can help you know if your data appears on the dark web.