Avoid getting scammed by "Have You Heard Of Hermit" emails

What kind of email is "Have You Heard Of Hermit"?

After reading this "Have You Heard Of Hermit" email, we determined that it promotes a sextortion scam. It claims that the recipient's devices were infected with malware, which was used to collect private data and record a sexually explicit video of the user.

The spam message threatens to leak the footage unless a ransom is paid. It must be stressed that the information in this email is false; hence, all the threats it makes are empty.

"Have You Heard Of Hermit" email scam overview

The spam email with the subject "Don't forget about your unpaid amount. Pay your debt now. #676105" (may vary) states that the recipient's devices were infected with Hermit – a spyware-type malware compatible with Windows, Android, and iOS operating systems.

This malicious program was used to extract private data (primarily related to communication) and access the devices' cameras. The latter were used to make recordings of the recipient while they were watching controversial adult-oriented content. The message claims that the recipient has 48 hours to pay 865 USD worth of Bitcoin cryptocurrency.

If the ransom is not paid, the sexually explicit video will be sent to the recipient's family, friends, and coworkers (email, WhatsApp, Telegram, Skype, and contacts on other platforms). The recipient is alerted that destroying the infected devices will not stop this process. They are also warned against contacting the authorities, as that will result in the distribution of the compromising footage.

As mentioned in the introduction, all the claims made by this email are false. Therefore, the sender has not infected the recipients' devices, stolen their personal information, or made any recordings. Thus, this scam email poses no threat to users who receive it.

It is noteworthy that cryptocurrency transactions are irreversible because they are practically untraceable. Hence, victims of sextortion emails cannot recover their digital assets.

Sextortion spam campaign examples

We have examined countless spam campaigns; "We Have Your Search Requests And Webcam Footage", "Data From All Your Devices Is Copied To My Servers", and "We Hacked Your System" are merely a few of our latest articles on sextortion emails.

However, spam messages are used to promote various scams – phishing, advance fee, technical support, refund, etc. This mail is also utilized in malware distribution.

While the commonly held belief that these emails are poorly written and riddled with grammatical/spelling errors is not untrue, it is not always the case. Spam mail can be competently crafted and even convincingly disguised as messages from legitimate entities. Therefore, we strongly advise exercising caution with incoming emails, PMs/DMs, SMSes, and other messages.

How do spam campaigns infect computers?

Spam campaigns spread malware through virulent files, which can be attached to or linked inside the emails/messages. These files can be documents (Microsoft Office, Microsoft OneNote, PDF, etc.), executables (.exe, .run, etc.), archives (RAR, ZIP, etc.), JavaScript, and so on.

The malware infiltration chain is triggered once a malicious file is opened. However, some formats need additional interaction to initiate system infection processes. For example, Microsoft Office files require users to enable macro commands (i.e., content/editing), while OneNote documents need them to click on embedded links or files.

How to avoid installation of malware?

Incoming emails and other messages must be approached with caution. We advise against opening attachments or links present in suspect/irrelevant communications, as they can be harmful or infectious.

It must be mentioned that malware is not proliferated exclusively through spam campaigns. Therefore, we recommend being careful while browsing since fraudulent and dangerous online content usually appears genuine and innocuous.

Additionally, all downloads must be made from official and trustworthy channels. Software must be activated and updated using functions/tools provided by legitimate developers, as illegal product activation tools ("cracks") and third-party updates can contain malware.

We must emphasize the importance of having a reputable antivirus installed and kept up-to-date. Security programs must be used to perform regular system scans and to remove detected threats and issues. If you've already opened malicious attachments, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate infiltrated malware.

Text presented in the "Have You Heard Of Hermit" spam email letter:

Subject: Don't forget about your unpaid amount. Pay your debt now. #676105

Hello,

I want to inform you about a very bad situation for you. However, you can benefit from it, if you will act wisely.

Have you heard of Hermit? This is a spyware program that installs on computers and smartphones and allows hackers to monitor the activity of device owners. It provides access to your webcam, messengers, emails, call records, etc. It works well on Android, iOS, and Windows. I guess, you already figured out where I'm getting at.

It's been a few months since I installed it on all your devices because you were not quite choosy about what links to click on the internet. During this period, I've learned about all aspects of your private life, but one is of special significance to me.

I've recorded many videos of you jerking off to highly controversial porn videos. Given that the "questionable" genre is almost always the same, I can conclude that you have sick perversion.

I doubt you'd want your friends, family and co-workers to know about it. However, I can do it in a few clicks.

Every number in your contact book will suddenly receive these videos – on WhatsApp, on Telegram, on Skype, on email – everywhere. It is going to be a tsunami that will sweep away everything in its path, and first of all, your former life.

Don't think of yourself as an innocent victim. No one knows where your perversion might lead in the future, so consider this a kind of deserved punishment to stop you.
Better late than never.

I'm some kind of God who sees everything. However, don't panic. As we know, God is merciful and forgiving, and so do I. But my mercy is not free.

Transfer $865 USD to my bitcoin wallet: bc1qccn0kqy4etmx7uyscchv8j4dth3jdanpjdk7ge

Once I receive confirmation of the transaction, I will permanently delete all videos compromising you, uninstall Hermit from all of your devices, and disappear from your life. You can be sure – my benefit is only money. Otherwise, I wouldn't be writing to you, but destroy your life without a word in a second.

I'll be notified when you open my email, and from that moment you have exactly 48 hours to send the money. If cryptocurrencies are unchartered waters for you, don't worry, it's very simple. Just google "crypto exchange" and then it will be no harder than buying some useless stuff on Amazon.

I strongly warn you against the following:

1) Do not contact the police. I have access to all your devices, and as soon as I find out you ran to the cops, videos will be published.
2) Don't try to reset or destroy your devices.

As I mentioned above: I'm monitoring all your activity, so you either agree to my terms or the videos are published.

Also, don't forget that cryptocurrencies are anonymous, so it's impossible to identify me using the provided address.
Good luck, my perverted friend. I hope this is the last time we hear from each other.

And some friendly advice: from now on, don't be so careless about your online security.

Appearance of the "Have You Heard Of Hermit" spam email (GIF):

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Quick menu:

• What is "Have You Heard Of Hermit" sextortion scam?
• Types of malicious emails.
• How to spot a malicious email?
• What to do if you fell for an email scam?

Types of malicious emails:

Phishing Emails

Most commonly, cybercriminals use deceptive emails to trick Internet users into giving away their sensitive private information, for example, login information for various online services, email accounts, or online banking information.

Such attacks are called phishing. In a phishing attack, cybercriminals usually send an email message with some popular service logo (for example, Microsoft, DHL, Amazon, Netflix), create urgency (wrong shipping address, expired password, etc.), and place a link which they hope their potential victims will click on.

After clicking the link presented in such email message, victims are redirected to a fake website that looks identical or extremely similar to the original one. Victims are then asked to enter their password, credit card details, or some other information that gets stolen by cybercriminals.

Emails with Malicious Attachments

Another popular attack vector is email spam with malicious attachments that infect users' computers with malware. Malicious attachments usually carry trojans that are capable of stealing passwords, banking information, and other sensitive information.

In such attacks, cybercriminals' main goal is to trick their potential victims into opening an infected email attachment. To achieve this goal, email messages usually talk about recently received invoices, faxes, or voice messages.

If a potential victim falls for the lure and opens the attachment, their computers get infected, and cybercriminals can collect a lot of sensitive information.

While it's a more complicated method to steal personal information (spam filters and antivirus programs usually detect such attempts), if successful, cybercriminals can get a much wider array of data and can collect information for a long period of time.

Sextortion Emails

This is a type of phishing. In this case, users receive an email claiming that a cybercriminal could access the webcam of the potential victim and has a video recording of one's masturbation.

To get rid of the video, victims are asked to pay a ransom (usually using Bitcoin or another cryptocurrency). Nevertheless, all of these claims are false - users who receive such emails should ignore and delete them.

How to spot a malicious email?

While cyber criminals try to make their lure emails look trustworthy, here are some things that you should look for when trying to spot a phishing email:

• Check the sender's ("from") email address: Hover your mouse over the "from" address and check if it's legitimate. For example, if you received an email from Microsoft, be sure to check if the email address is @microsoft.com and not something suspicious like @m1crosoft.com, @microsfot.com, @account-security-noreply.com, etc.
• Check for generic greetings: If the greeting in the email is "Dear user", "Dear @youremail.com", "Dear valued customer", this should raise suspiciousness. Most commonly, companies call you by your name. Lack of this information could signal a phishing attempt.
• Check the links in the email: Hover your mouse over the link presented in the email, if the link that appears seems suspicious, don't click it. For example, if you received an email from Microsoft and the link in the email shows that it will go to firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0... you shouldn't trust it. It's best not to click any links in the emails but to visit the company website that sent you the email in the first place.
• Don't blindly trust email attachments: Most commonly, legitimate companies will ask you to log in to their website and to view any documents there; if you received an email with an attachment, it's a good idea to scan it with an antivirus application. Infected email attachments are a common attack vector used by cybercriminals.

To minimise the risk of opening phishing and malicious emails we recommend using Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows. 

Example of a spam email:

What to do if you fell for an email scam?

• If you clicked on a link in a phishing email and entered your password - be sure to change your password as soon as possible. Usually, cybercriminals collect stolen credentials and then sell them to other groups that use them for malicious purposes. If you change your password in a timely manner, there's a chance that criminals won't have enough time to do any damage.
• If you entered your credit card information - contact your bank as soon as possible and explain the situation. There's a good chance that you will need to cancel your compromised credit card and get a new one.
• If you see any signs of identity theft - you should immediately contact the Federal Trade Commission. This institution will collect information about your situation and create a personal recovery plan.
• If you opened a malicious attachment - your computer is probably infected, you should scan it with a reputable antivirus application. For this purpose, we recommend using  Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows.
• Help other Internet users - report phishing emails to Anti-Phishing Working Group, FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, National Fraud Information Center and U.S. Department of Justice.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Why did I receive this email?

Even if a spam email includes personal or otherwise relevant information that does not make the message itself personal. Cyber criminals distribute these emails by the thousand with the hopes that at least some recipients will fall for their scams.

Was my computer actually hacked and does the sender have any information?

The claims made by sextortion scam emails are entirely false. Hence, none of the recipient's devices were infected, no sensitive data was stolen, nor were any compromising videos filmed.

How did cyber criminals get my email password?

It is not uncommon for scammers to send spam emails from the recipient's own account; the motivation is that this creates an incredible impression of the legitimacy for the hacking claims. Typically, email passwords are obtained through phishing scams (e.g., fake sign-in pages, etc.). It is less likely for this data to have been acquired through a compromise on the recipient's end, and it is highly improbable for it to have been obtained via a breach on a service provider's end.

I have sent cryptocurrency to the address presented in this email, can I get my money back?

Cryptocurrency transactions cannot be reversed because they are nearly untraceable. Therefore, victims of scam emails like "Have You Heard Of Hermit" cannot get their money back.

I have provided my personal information when tricked by a spam email, what should I do?

If you have provided your log-in credentials – change the passwords of all potentially exposed accounts and inform their official support without delay. However, if you have disclosed other private information (e.g., ID card details, credit card numbers, etc.) – immediately contact the appropriate authorities.

I have read a spam email but didn't open the attachment, is my computer infected?

Reading an email does not pose an infection threat; systems are infected when malicious attachments or links are opened/clicked.

I have downloaded and opened a file attached to a spam email, is my computer infected?

File formats may influence infection success rates. Once opened, executables cause infections almost without fail. However, some other formats – like documents – might need additional interaction. For example, triggering the malware infiltration process may require users to enable macros, click embedded links/files, or perform other actions.

Will Combo Cleaner remove malware infections present in email attachments?

Combo Cleaner is designed to scan devices and eliminate all kinds of threats. It is capable of detecting and removing most of the known malware infections. Remember that performing a full system scan is critical since high-end malicious programs typically hide deep within systems.