A standard ransomware attack is where someone claims to have hacked your computer systems and has access to your private or business documents, photos etc. and will make them public unless you pay a ransom or has encrypted your files and will only decrypt them at a cost.

That ransom is usually payable in Bitcoin as such payments cannot be tracked or reversed.

This variant of the scam is about databases.

The blackmailer claims to the radio station to have hacked our website and copied the databases then threatens the following, unless we pay $3,000 in Bitcoin within 5 days.

• To sell the databases to the highest bidder
• To publish all emails they have found
• To attack any of our customers and associates they have details for
• To delink any links we have setup
• To damage our reputation any way they can

The whole message seems to be one of desperation.

It is all fake of course. Just idle threats in the hope that someone will feel vulnerable enough to pay up.

The message consists of generalities and threats – there is nothing to show that an actual hack has taken place.

If you receive ransom demands of this kind, they are almost always entirely fake.

A real hacker would contact you directly and show evidence of hacked data or documents.

If you’ve experienced a real hack – do let me know by email.