“I Have Your Videos” — The Disturbing Scam Preying on Your Worst Fear

You open your inbox and there it is – an email that stops your heart for a second:
“I have access to your camera. I recorded you. Pay me or I send your videos to everyone you know.”

Charming, right?

This is what’s known as a sextortion scam, and yes, it’s as scummy as it sounds. A scammer tries to freak you out by claiming they’ve hacked your device, recorded intimate moments, and will send them to your contacts unless you pay up. They often toss in an old password you recognize (snagged from a data breach), maybe even your home address (thank you, Google), to make it feel real.

Let’s Get One Thing Straight: They Don’t Have Anything on You

They didn’t hack your webcam. They didn’t install spyware. They don’t have a secret file of you. What they do have is your attention — and they’re banking on your fear doing the rest.

The scam goes something like this:

• Your devices are infected with advanced spyware (they’re not).
• They’ve been watching you for months (they haven’t).
• They’ve recorded you doing something embarrassing (nope).
• They’ll send it to everyone you know unless you pay (they won’t — because they have nothing).

Here’s the real story: these emails are mass-produced nonsense written by scammers hoping to hit a nerve. They often use:

• A password you may have used years ago (found in a data breach),
• Your email provider (like Microsoft, Gmail, etc.),
• And creepy threats involving spyware, webcams, or embarrassing videos.

They don’t actually have access to your devices, and they definitely don’t have videos of you doing anything private. They’re bluffing, plain and simple.

Why It Works (And Why It Shouldn’t)

Scammers don’t need to be right — they just need to make you sweat. Shame is a powerful motivator, and they know people are more likely to pay up if the threat feels humiliating enough. But here’s the truth: you are not alone. This scam isn’t personal — it’s mass-produced and sent to thousands of inboxes.

If it makes you feel better (and we hope it does), we've seen this before. In fact, there's a whole article dedicated to breaking down one version of this exact scam, called “Worried Someone Will Share Your Nudes?”. You are not alone, indeed.

Real Example, Fake Threat

Here’s a cleaned-up version of what one scammer recently sent:

"Hello p****, I've sent this message from your Microsoft account. I've installed Pegasus on your devices — it lets me access your webcam, messengers, and emails. I've recorded many videos of you doing embarrassing things while watching controversial content..."**

Source: Reddit

Sounds scary, right? But it’s all smoke and mirrors.

Why People Fall for It

Scammers rely on shame and panic. They want you to freeze, feel alone, and act fast — usually by sending Bitcoin. But remember this:

You are not alone.

This is happening to thousands of people, and these scammers are just throwing darts in the dark, hoping someone bites. It's blackmail. It's extortion. Plain and simple.

What Should You Do?

• Breathe. Seriously. This isn’t real.
• Don’t reply. Don’t click. Don’t pay.
• Take a screenshot and report it to your local cybercrime unit or the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center if you’re in the U.S. Report to your local law enforcement agency in your home country.
• Change any compromised passwords (especially if you’re still using that ancient one from 2012).
• Tell someone. Talking about it removes the shame, and you’ll probably find someone else who’s received the same thing.

Bottom Line: Shrug It Off

Sextortion scammers are cowards hiding behind fake threats and fear tactics. Don’t let them win. You’re not the only one who’s gotten that email, and you won’t be the last — but you can be one of the smart ones who shrugs it off and hits delete.

Remember: you are not alone, and you’re definitely not being watched. Unless you count your cat. And let's be honest — they already judge you enough