Old and New Ashley Madison Extortion

FrgMstr

FrgMstr

Just Plain Mean
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It has been a couple years since the Ashley Madison data breach took place and it seems to have been back in the news for a while, but this was my first time seeing this. While cybercriminals tend to use the internet for their nefarious purposes, this time they are taking a page out of the Pony Express' manual by actually stuffing envelopes. I would have to think that an envelope with an actual extortion letter showing up at your doorstep might have a bit more impact than an email that would be easily deleted with a single click. The letters from January of last year makes some nasty claims as to the action to be take if you don't shell out $500 worth of bitcoin.

But I didn't stop there. l also contacted [REDACTED]'s work colleagues. I also contacted his daughter. And his daughters boyfriend. And I contacted several of his superiors, peers, and subordinates at [REDACTED]. You see, [REDACTED], if you don't comply with my demand I am not just going to humiliate you, I am going to humiliate those close to you as well.

Now extortionists are back this year with a new campaign this month and have directly contacted Robin Harris that writes for ZDNet, albeit through a most impersonal email.

On May 1 2017 we are launching our new site -- Cheaters Gallery - exposing those who cheat and destroy families. We will launch the site with a big email to all the friends and family of cheaters taken from Facebook, LinkedIn and other social sites. This will include you if do not pay to opting out.

These newest extortionists are just plain rude. My mom always told me when I was a little kid that a real letter was always better than sending an email. And that sentiment seems to be ringing true with at least a few folks in this brave new world we live it. (That's a lie, the closest thing we had to the internet when I was a kid was the party line...and it is not as much fun as it sounds like.)
 
modi123 said:
Spear phishing goes low-tech?
Click to expand...

Curious how people are manipulated by this stuff. I get it, it's a cheating website.... But outside of your direct spouse, how much of a "threat" is it to let them know you were on that site.

I mean, all that leaked are people's usernames, passwords, and actual names right?

And there's plenty of valid responses such as
"Yeah, I thought it was a normal dating site at first - but then I realized it and stopped going"
"Yeah, a friend wanted me to view his profile but I had to register first to view it"
 
I can't believe it's already been a couple of years since the breach. Anyhow, I'm surprised there's an extortion market for this breach. It was so easy to search the database (I had two co-workers who used their work e-mails to sign up for it), and it was so publicized, I really don't understand how there's a market for it.
 
extortion/blackmail crimes need to stop even though these dudes were bad hombres. the government does near 0 for spam, malware, telemarketing scams. Have fun reporting a telemarketer scam its a waste of your time.
 
Spartacus said:
Who would use their real name and address info on a cheating site? :confused:

My name is Harry Beaver. :beaver:

Or was it Dick Hertz?

ETA: Mike Hunt

.
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Typically the credit card companies require a valid name and address before a card is charged.
 
toast0 - Since.. always? I know banks that issue visa/mastercard definitely kick back transactions in payment processing if information is wrong.
 
modi123 said:
Typically the credit card companies require a valid name and address before a card is charged.
Click to expand...


This isn't true. While many companies certainly use AVS which verifies House # and zip code, name and address are not needed to run any CC. I only run #s and exp dates at my work. Don't even need the CVV code. Typically you will get better rates if you use CVV and AVS but they aren't required at all.
 
Not to go diving around off the extortion topic, but I would disagree. Worked for a large credit card processing company specifically in the authorizations department. Clients had rubrics setup and name/address matching was important for online transactions and more so with.. ah-hem... certain categorized transactions. This was part of the giant plinko board setup that would trigger an actual call or block at a physical use station.

Now back to your regularly scheduled extortion letters. Ha!

Ur_Mom - Certainly.. but the majority of folk were not doing that. Poor counter detection planning.
 
They kind of lose their moral high ground when they offer them a way to pay off the cheaters gallery. Maybe they should double extort those users on another website, "Ha! they cheated AND they think they can pay to cover up the act!"
 
Ur_Mom said:
Buy a prepaid card from Walmart or even the Dollar Tree. Load it with some monies and use it. Any name you desire.
Click to expand...

People who would use this type of site are generally not that smart. Otherwise they wouldn't be using the site or cheating.

One word: Karma.
 
Time2Kill said:
This isn't true. While many companies certainly use AVS which verifies House # and zip code, name and address are not needed to run any CC. I only run #s and exp dates at my work. Don't even need the CVV code. Typically you will get better rates if you use CVV and AVS but they aren't required at all.
Click to expand...

It's been a while, but, as I understand it, it depends on the Merchant Category Code. High risk codes like liquor, gambling, and nudie bars have more strict verification requirements than shipping services and fast food. I would expect a cheating site filled with bots to be particularly high-risk with authorizations routinely denied for even slight errors.
 
nutzo said:
People who would use this type of site are generally not that smart. Otherwise they wouldn't be using the site or cheating.

One word: Karma.
Click to expand...

Ehh... I have some sympathy for those trapped in dead marriages though.

Sometimes you are stuck in the same house with somebody you absolutely have
come to hate and there is no easy way to end it and walk.

.
 
Cyraxx said:
I mean, all that leaked are people's usernames, passwords, and actual names right?

And there's plenty of valid responses such as
"Yeah, I thought it was a normal dating site at first - but then I realized it and stopped going"
"Yeah, a friend wanted me to view his profile but I had to register first to view it"
Click to expand...

Well it looks as though the blackmailers have done some investigating on their victims like facebook/linkedin stalking to try and cultivate more information about them so they can contact friends and family members about their misdeeds. Some people may actually be more embarrassed by this going public than their wives finding out.

Good luck telling your wife it was just some harmless mistake. I imagine most people on a site like that are in a stressed relationship anyway so something like this would just be the last straw.
 
Spartacus said:
Ehh... I have some sympathy for those trapped in dead marriages though.

Sometimes you are stuck in the same house with somebody you absolutely have
come to hate and there is no easy way to end it and walk.

.
Click to expand...
what are you talking about. Put house up for sale, move out, get a divorce.
 
I thought this thread was going to be about Kyle getting caught up in the Ashley Madison scandal...
 
nysmo said:
what are you talking about. Put house up for sale, move out, get a divorce.
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Not always that simple for a number of reasons. Biggest one is still needing each other financially.
Maybe the guy knows he will get hit with alimony that he can't afford.

Times are tough for a good many people out there.

.
 
Cyraxx said:
Curious how people are manipulated by this stuff. I get it, it's a cheating website.... But outside of your direct spouse, how much of a "threat" is it to let them know you were on that site.

I mean, all that leaked are people's usernames, passwords, and actual names right?

And there's plenty of valid responses such as
"Yeah, I thought it was a normal dating site at first - but then I realized it and stopped going"
"Yeah, a friend wanted me to view his profile but I had to register first to view it"
Click to expand...

Because others can use the site to target people for different reasons.

For instance, a guy works for the DoD and has a Security Clearance. A foreign Intelligence Services trolls the site looking for government works and contractors who have clearances and access to information. Sooner or later, they come around to this guy because hey, it's not hard to figure out what zip codes have classified military facilities so troll troll troll, catch ! Your hot Anna Chapman girl hooks up with this guy, they make some awesome videos and pics, and they blackmail this guy. Give us info, we'll pay you, and your wife doesn't need to know about Miss Chapman.

It's happened before it'll happen again.
 
Spartacus said:
Ehh... I have some sympathy for those trapped in dead marriages though.

Sometimes you are stuck in the same house with somebody you absolutely have
come to hate and there is no easy way to end it and walk.

.
Click to expand...

Doesn't sound like the kind who would fear blackmail though.
 
nysmo said:
what are you talking about. Put house up for sale, move out, get a divorce.
Click to expand...


Not so easy when you have kids, if anything, I think the older the kids are the harder it can be. The young ones are sorta still clueless, it really feels like you are abandoning the older ones cause they are at the age or past it, where they actually maybe did things with you. The longer you go, hopefully your relationship with your children strengthen. As they grow up, they aren't just obeying you, they are starting to make choices in their life as you would. Not always of course, but you start to see yourself in them by their actions. And that's when you are going to tell them adios ?

It's just not always so easy.
 
Cyraxx said:
Curious how people are manipulated by this stuff. I get it, it's a cheating website.... But outside of your direct spouse, how much of a "threat" is it to let them know you were on that site.

I mean, all that leaked are people's usernames, passwords, and actual names right?

And there's plenty of valid responses such as
"Yeah, I thought it was a normal dating site at first - but then I realized it and stopped going"
"Yeah, a friend wanted me to view his profile but I had to register first to view it"
Click to expand...
That and there is no chain of custody for the data from leak. Who is to say they didn't buy a bunch a of PII from some Russian site and claim it was from the AM leak?

nysmo said:
what are you talking about. Put house up for sale, move out, get a divorce.
Click to expand...
Nah, too much trouble and expense. :D
 
Silentbob343 said:
.....................Nah, too much trouble and expense. :D
Click to expand...

I always wondered why any man would plot and kill his wife.

Plan a vacation to New York, see the sights.

The Empire State Building

Tour the Statue of Liberty

Have a great dinner at a 4 Star

Take in a play

And have a nice evening stroll together ..... in Central Park......at night.......Two will walk in, the natives will ensure that only one walks out :whistle:
 
nysmo said:
what are you talking about. Put house up for sale, move out, get a divorce.
Click to expand...

You forgot the live like a pauper because every penny goes to to your ex wife for the rest of your life part..... if your a dude that is..
 
I think the "funny" part is they might get some wrong. Going through Facebook and such? You're betting you got the right person. Not only that, but what about people who've moved, changed emails, no longer have that CC? How about those that divorced since then? Some of these people haven't used the site in years, good luck verifying off of that info...

Talk about spray and pray for money.
 
Cyraxx said:
Curious how people are manipulated by this stuff. I get it, it's a cheating website.... But outside of your direct spouse, how much of a "threat" is it to let them know you were on that site.

I mean, all that leaked are people's usernames, passwords, and actual names right?

And there's plenty of valid responses such as
"Yeah, I thought it was a normal dating site at first - but then I realized it and stopped going"
"Yeah, a friend wanted me to view his profile but I had to register first to view it"
Click to expand...

I think you missed the physical envelope going to your home address...
 
Crosshairs said:
You forgot the live like a pauper because every penny goes to to your ex wife for the rest of your life part..... if your a dude that is..
Click to expand...

If you are the type of person that is going to be blackmailed to the degree this person is I am pretty sure that you have a prenup. Hell, these people are probably paying everything already for their lover as far as rent, car, clothes and spending cash. So paying for the divorce isn't going to hurt them.
 
So there seems to be this great concern of not being able to support yourself single or somehow disrupting your family life by getting a divorce. Having been through one there's a couple of things you need to realize

1) Not every divorce ends in dramatic hollywood fashion with your wife being awarded crippling amounts of money. Alimony is something negotiated between lawyers and sometimes not even brought up at all, depends upon if your wife wants it. If she does then an examination of finances will be in order to determine what, if any can be had. Most often things like child support wont ruin you if you adjust your standard of living. As a grown man you may have to live with a roommate in a cheap apartment but hey, this might beat living with a woman you loathe. Plus it's not like you'll be single forever so you'll probably meet another woman eventually and move in with her to help ease the financial burden.

2) This idea that it is better to stay in a loveless empty marriage on display for your kids than to just break up and find someone else you are happy with, or worse; to think you can fake it. So many parents think they can just pretend they are still in love with each other because no way would a 10 year old kids radar be able to detect any subtle changes in your behavior. The truth is all these parents who have divorced themselves mentally for the last 15 years "waiting for the kids to grow up" are just causing more harm than good. They may think they are putting on a good show, but the only show they are giving is the "how to pretend to love each other" show. It's just part of an overall vicious cycle and usually those parents grew up in similar relationships of their own.

I for one think it's better to give your kids the initial shock of divorce, let them get over it, and then let them see what happiness really is, especially when they meet their new step-parents and see how their real parents interact with them.
 
Exavior said:
If you are the type of person that is going to be blackmailed to the degree this person is I am pretty sure that you have a prenup. Hell, these people are probably paying everything already for their lover as far as rent, car, clothes and spending cash. So paying for the divorce isn't going to hurt them.
Click to expand...

If you have enough to get a prenup, you have enough for the lawyers to get it tossed out for some reason.
 
nysmo said:
........
2) This idea that it is better to stay in a loveless empty marriage on display for your kids than to just break up and find someone else you are happy with, or worse; to think you can fake it. So many parents think they can just pretend they are still in love with each other because no way would a 10 year old kids radar be able to detect any subtle changes in your behavior. The truth is all these parents who have divorced themselves mentally for the last 15 years "waiting for the kids to grow up" are just causing more harm than good. They may think they are putting on a good show, but the only show they are giving is the "how to pretend to love each other" show. It's just part of an overall vicious cycle and usually those parents grew up in similar relationships of their own.

I for one think it's better to give your kids the initial shock of divorce, let them get over it, and then let them see what happiness really is, especially when they meet their new step-parents and see how their real parents interact with them.
Click to expand...

Like many things, one size doesn't fit all.

When you say "This idea that ....." it sounds so advisory, you are explaining how things are. Don't tell it to me, I'm living it. And my kids aren't 10, they are over 30. They aren't living in the house and their radar doesn't spot mommy sleeping in the other bedroom. Frankly, you see it all nice and neat from your vantage but the entire world isn't walking in your shoes. Are you sure you see my 56 year old wife moving on and getting married again? I bet the odds are against it.

I'm not saying you are completely wrong. I'm saying, you aren't completely right.
 
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