Cybercriminals exploit personal details for infidelity email scams

Many people have started receiving emails about evidence of a spouse's infidelity, containing very personal information. How did the senders even know the names of their dogs?

Cybercriminals attempting to extort money via emails use a range of tricks to lure potential victims into a trap. They pose threats of installing viruses on computers, claim they have access to our "spicy photos," or that our bank account is at risk. The Bleeping Computer portal reported on a new popular threat.

This time, online criminals are trying to convince victims that they have materials proving their spouse committed infidelity. What alarmed most recipients of the scam emails was using names not commonly associated with them or used online, such as maiden names or middle names. The emails even included pet names.

Many people wrote on Reddit about receiving such messages. One user reported: "They used our full names (even my middle name, which I hardly ever use) and I'm not sure how they found this information. I'm almost certain it's a scam, but I couldn't find any information about it online.... has this happened to anyone? It's so creepy."

Some of the "infidelity" scams come from a single source. The circulated email reads:

"[Spouse's name] is cheating on your. Here a proof.

As a company engaged in cyber security we've found information to [Spouse's name] that interest you.

We made a full backup of his disk (We have all his address book, social media, history of viewing sites, dating apps, all files, phone numbers, and addresses of all his contacts) and are willing to give you full access to this data. For more details visit our website."

Although it is not confirmed where the private information comes from, many Reddit users claim they only shared it on the popular wedding planning site The Knot. One user confessed she received an email about her "cheating" dog, Mr. Wiggles, whose name she also shared on the site. When Bleeping Computer asked for a comment on the alleged data leak, the site did not address these suspicions. The Knot has 35 million users monthly.

We must be aware that all the data we have ever entered online is potentially at risk of leaking. Cybercriminals are constantly seeking new methods to rob victims. Therefore, it is worth keeping this in mind when we receive any "sudden," "urgent," and "shocking" messages, whether in our email, on social media, or the phone. The key to scammers' success is our impulsive, emotional reactions.