Ashley Madisonpromotes itself as a dating site that helps people cheat on their partners.
The site is lousy with extortion attempts, to put it mildly.
People who say they paid the extortionists often complain that it didnt stop the scammers from demanding more payments.
Illustration: Vicky Leta
And that results in a predictable downward spiral of futility for the victims.
After I paid them they then asked for more money.
The anonymous hackers demanded thesite be taken downor theyd release detailed information about users.
But even after such a devastating hack, the site is still around.
And scammers seem to be everywhere.
The 45 complaints below have been edited only slightly for readability, including capitalization, spelling, and punctuation.
But the substance of each complaint hasnt been otherwise changed.
Ashley Madison didnt respond to questions sent on Monday about safeguards the site has in place for extortion attempts.
Well update this post if we hear back.
1) The entire call was recorded on Skype…
I matched with this person on Ashley Madison and asked to video chat.
It was a naked girl on the webcam asking for me to just watch and join in.
2) I have already given her $5,000 in eBay gift cards…
I met this woman on the dating site Ashley Madison.
We exchanged a few chats on that site, then moved to texting/emailing.
She requested that explicit videos and photos be sent to her and I complied.
Now she is threatening to expose those.
I am freaking out.
3) They took a screenshot of my profile… After no reply, they dropped their demand for money to $300.
I have not replied or answered any of their attempts to contact me.
Pretty soon she wanted to move to Skype to give me a show.
Several times mentioning people on my Facebook friends list if I didnt pay her.
Theres no way she is 16 unless she had some serious body modification.
I first met this individual on Ashley Madison website.
I took some photos exposing myself.
Not a good thing to do.
I did exactly was required of me.
Now they want $500 more.
This will ruin my life and career.
6) She persuaded me to take a naked picture…
I was chatting with a member on Ashley Madison dating site that moved to text.
She persuaded me to take a naked picture a few nights ago.
The sender is now trying to extort text messages between us and the naked picture for $3,000.
They wanted to have a sexy video chat including nudity.
After a while of us masturbating together the video feed shut off and they said they recorded the video.
They then threatened to spread the video around the internet saying that I am harassing underage girls.
They want me to send $1,000 dollars through PayPal to them to delete the video.
8) She showed me her female parts…
They then took pictures of me and video naked.
This user called me via Microsofts Skype utility and she appeared to be calling via computer webcam.
I agreed to these terms.
I did much the same.
They started another video call and we proceeded to engage in individual sexual activity.
I am shaken at this point.
I agree to pay them $4,000 to get them to delete the video.
We spend the next 5 hours online trying to push the payment through but encountering difficulties along the way.
One was successfully sent via my PayPal account for a sum of $1,000.
Western Union was the only transfer to succeed but it was put under review.
The extortionist demanded I call the help number and ask it to be approved.
I did and the agent was able to put together that I was being blackmailed.
He then cancelled the transaction, advised I end all contact with the extortionist, and secure my accounts.
I did so but the extortionist got a hold of me the next day regardless.
I again became terrified and agreed to pay the total previously agreed upon.
That transaction completed successfully.
I then went to Walgreens to make another direct transfer via debit through their in-store Western Union kiosks.
That sum was $500.
We started to use Signal and the scammer sent me nude pictures.
They already texted my wife with one of the 4 phone numbers listed below.
This person is demanding $5,000 from me, or they will continue to expose me.
NO TURNING BACK I WILL SPREAD THIS AND THIS WILL GONNA RUIN EVERYTHING.
13) …asked for money in order not to publish it on social media.
But then I had to hang up the call.
Then started to text me telling me all of family members info which I thought was confidential on Skype.
I am going thru a divorce and I still love my wife and maybe wanted to work it out.
I was weak and did this because I have been alone for some time now.
I feel more broken hearted now.
Consumer stated she told him she was part of a modeling agency hired to do it.
Consumer stated he sent $1,000 through PayPal and wanted $400 more to help her aunt.
Consumer did not comply.
Consumer is referred to IC3.GOV.
17) …now they are trying to blackmail me.
Met a person on an online dating site (Ashley Madison)…conversation transitioned to texting.
We exchanged some explicit photos and now they are trying to blackmail me.
18) I am single too.
Went onto Ashley Madison and someone that was single messaged me so I messaged them back.
I am single too.
They shared a nude photo of them and then I shared one of myself.
Then after that, they wanted money to not share to social media to people I know.
I havent sent any money yet.
19) She said I need to pay her $3,500 for deleting all videos and pictures.
I was contacted by a girl on Ashley Madison website.
She said she is married and looking for nsa fun.
She gave me her email [redacted] and said she is from Atlantic, Iowa.
She never sent me any pictures.
Then she asked me to go to Google chat and continue there.
At some point she said she wanted to video chat with me.
Then she asked me to show her my intimate organ, which I did show.
I had to finish this video chat early because I was in a bathroom in a public place.
She insisted to continue.
She said I need to pay her $3,500 for deleting all videos and pictures.
And she gave me email address, connected to her PayPal account [redacted].
And her name was [redacted], which is probably fake.
20) …said she was underage when her Ashley Madison profile claimed 20s.
The person threatened to spread it and said she was underage when her Ashley Madison profile claimed 20s.
21) I blocked the first number…
I was on the Ashley Madison dating site and received a message.
We exchanged numbers to meet up for a fun night.
We send each other images and am now being threatened with having my images and nude pics being shared.
I blocked the first number [redacted] and now am being threatened with another number.
23) Then she threatened to send my nudes online and to all my friends.
She claimed to be a 32 women.
I meet her on Ashley Madison and than switched to Snapchat.
Where she wanted to play around with me and she wanted to see my dick pictures.
She acted interested in wanting to meet.
Then she threatened to send my nudes online and to all my friends.
Snapchat name was [redacted].
I reported her to Snapchat.
Than she texted me threatening to send those nudes if I didnt so what she wanted.
Did the same process with $500 but I think it failed but the reference was [redacted].
We exchanged phone numbers and she texted me.
She asked me to download Skype so we could video chat.
Once I did that I was recorded on Skype in a sexual compromising position.
They showed me the recording and then a list of some of personal contacts.
They said they would send the video to my contacts if I did not send them $1,500.
They first attempted to receive payment through Western Union and PayPal but the the transactions were rejected.
These are the names they gave me of the people to send the money to.
[redacted] After I paid them they then asked for more money.
I have a feeling this isnt going to stop and I dont know what to do.
I have both numbers that were used and they also said I was contacted a minor for sex.
27) Scammer threatening to expose my nude pics and tell my wife…
Online dating site.
Phone number is [recacted].
This occurred on Ashley Madison.
THIS IS THE INFORMATION OF THE WESTERN UNION TRANSACTION IN THE PHILIPPINES YOUR MONEY HAS BEEN SENT.
IT WILL BE AVAILABLE IN [redacted] MOBILE WALLET BY 02/02/2022.
THANK YOU FOR USING WESTERN UNION?
29) She wanted money or would release my video to public… She suggested very quickly we leave and get onto Skype.
I didnt have Skype on my phone and did eventually install it after 30 minutes.
Female texting me gave me her password [redacted] to get Skype working.
Then text came up stating she wanted money or would release my video to public.
I assume female was a fake video played back to me but i dont know for sure.
Didnt seem real or in time with situation.
Scammers left two text on my cell phone.
2nd [redacted] (owner) [redacted] at [redacted].
I never noticed a name come up while texting me.
I did delete both from my cell phone but phone still keeps record of two deleted.
I did delete Skype from my phone.
I dont use the email address anymore.
My research on address came from whitepages.com.
30) The video was titled PERVERT MANIAC…
Female individual impersonated an interested party in Ashley Madison app.
Alias in app is unknown but it was something like [redacted], with no picture.
Individual claimed to be a flight attendant.
Individual shifted medium to standard texting.
I later discovered this was to acquire my phone number.
Individual used [redacted].
Individual then shifted medium to Hangouts app.
It was later discovered this was to acquire my email address and record me in a compromising video.
Individual used [redacted] account with Lady in Red as the username.
Individual has brown shoulder length hair and operated phone and laptop to communicate.
Individual then used their YouTube channel that starts Lady in the to initiate a new video to her channel.
It included my name, phone number, email address and a screen capture of the video.
It was at this time I ended all communication with the individual.
I attempted to report the individual to Ashley Madison but her account was already deleted.
We began chatting using KIK and I sent compromising pictures of myself.
In my haste, I did purchase the gift cards and sent the pictures to the individual.
Not surprisingly, they then demanded $1,000 to delete the images from their hard drive.
Their Ashley Madison profile is/was: [redacted].
I have the Apple gift card numbers if that is helpful, too.
I can be reached via email at [redacted] if I can help in the investigation.
32) Then she recorded my embarrassing conversations…
I believe I am a victim of an organized crime internet that is extorting people by invading their privacy.
We started texting and then she asked me to video call her through google hangout.
She claimed her name is [redacted] and she lives in Centreville, Virginia.
This is the fake number that she was using: [redacted].
Thank you in advance for your assistance.
I paid $200 but then they asked for more money to delete them because they needed more.
Scammer suggested text so I agreed.
She sent sensitive pictures and sent sensitive pictures back through text.
I told them that I didnt have that money and that they should proceed with the scam.
She wanted to video skype me and then start asking me to show my self while recording the chat.
36) I made a deal and wired some money
Member was on Ashley Madison.
Emails were exchanged and then numbers.
Photos were exchanged and then they threatened me that they would post them online.
I made a deal and wired some money and said was deleted.
Next day they text me saying they wanted more.
I have not replied and I know its a scam.
They are now using a second number to send photos that were not deleted.
They appear to have recorded me while on Skype.
I am really scared, as a college student this can ruin my life.
When I noticed the person wasnt moving they said camera issues.
They said it would.
I sent the money via Western Union payable to [redacted], in the Philippines.
Then said, I would have until Friday June 4 to send the additional $850.
I feel certain that that will not stop and they will continue.
We started texting and then I was give her username to chat via Skype app.
The username I was given was [redacted].
Then we talked using the Skype and and she video called me.
I was instructed not to respond to the texts.
After coaxing me, they requested a nude photo with my face, and I reciprocated.
I conducted a total of two transactions: one on PayPal and the other through www.worldremit.com.
They kept pushing me to send them $500 U.S. (roughly 23,000 Filipino pesos).
I tried PayPal, which did not work immediately, and so they pressured me to send via worldremit.com.
Hence, I sent a total of two transactions.
I am waiting to be reinstated for one by PayPal.
I have alerted PayPal to the fraud and am awaiting a ruling.
The transaction through www.worldremit.com has processed ($500).
After sending the first round of money, they then asked for more (of course).
I have reported the incident to the local police, the FBI (www.ic3.gov) and now here.
I am totally fearful of this photo getting out and am losing my sanity.
Ive never been duped like this, but this was totally disarming.
They were using the phone number [redacted].
My husband and I had already talked and knew that this was a scam all along.
I have contacted LinkedIn to remove the profile.
The individual on the phone did not provide their name or any other information to either of us.
42) I never paid because I really dont care if they spread the video.
They gave me a phone number of [redacted] and we texted.
Then they wanted to do a Skype call in the nude.
I fell for it.
They called me, and there was a nude woman on the other end and I was nude too.
I never paid because I really dont care if they spread the video.
The Skype address of the person who contacted me is [redacted].
43) …now saying that theyre 15 years old.
We met on Ashley Madison, we exchanged emails then phone numbers.
She said she was 24 through texts.
Had a video chat on Skype and she recorded the video chat to threaten me with.
She contacted me and we chatted over text (outside the website).
This transaction has been reported to PayPal and hopefully it can be used against this ring of individuals.
Have you been the victim of an extortion attempt and want to tell your story?
Send us a tip at[email protected].
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