Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Scottie Mom

(5,844 posts)
Sun Jun 21, 2026, 03:47 PM 15 hrs ago

My blackmailer accepts PayPal. I think I got scammed by a small business.

Hi DU — it’s SCOTTIE MOM back after mostly a long stretch away. I owe you all an apology for disappearing, but cancer treatment, surgeries, and recovery had to come first. I’ve missed this place more than you know.

But today… oh today… I bring you a story so ridiculous I laughed until I cried.

I got my *first ever* extortion email in 30+ years online. And friends, it was the most incompetent, low‑budget, bargain‑bin scam imaginable.

The email claimed they had “compromising photos” of me using my iPhone on adult sites to “pleasure myself.”

Now, for context: I have cancer in my right femur and left hip, and my right leg is full of metal rods. So the only way I could get into the position this scammer described is if NASA lowered me into it with a crane!!!

But the best part? The payment options. This criminal mastermind demanded hush money via:

- Credit card
- Debit card
- Bank transfer
- **PAYPAL**

PAYPAL!?!?!?!?! My blackmailer uses the same platform I use to buy antique furniture and dog toys.

This wasn’t extortion. This was a "GoFundMe with threats!" In the email demand there was:

No name.
No gender.
No details.
No proof.
Just a generic form letter that could have been addressed to a ficus.

Honestly, I can’t tell if I was being blackmailed or if someone was trying to sell me a subscription box.

Anyway — I’m fine, I’m laughing, and I thought DU deserved to laugh with me. I'm doing better and have my first visit with City of Hope tomorrow. It’s good to be back with DU!

Love ya, SCOTTIE MOM


21 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
My blackmailer accepts PayPal. I think I got scammed by a small business. (Original Post) Scottie Mom 15 hrs ago OP
Real blackmailers use Venmo... Wounded Bear 15 hrs ago #1
So...how do you know this... Scottie Mom 14 hrs ago #2
Actually I don't. Just piling on to the joke... Wounded Bear 14 hrs ago #3
Paypal owns Venmo TVguyCards 14 hrs ago #7
Really? Scottie Mom 14 hrs ago #11
Yup, they sure do TVguyCards 14 hrs ago #12
I think zelle is owned by Chase. mwmisses4289 13 hrs ago #14
It was a funny line and you made me laugh! N/T Scottie Mom 14 hrs ago #4
Welcome back Scottie Mom! MIButterfly 14 hrs ago #5
When I first read the email, I panicked ... until I saw that the blackmailer took PAYPAL!!!!! Scottie Mom 14 hrs ago #6
Can you ask them for details? Enquiring minds want to know. Norrrm 14 hrs ago #8
You people got it all wrong. Mine said the same thing but presented me with a crypto account number. Wonder Why 14 hrs ago #9
OMG...I nearly fell out of my desk chair!! Scottie Mom 14 hrs ago #10
Welcome back, Scotttie Mom. And you do not "owe" us anything. Your niyad 13 hrs ago #13
I got one that was even funnier jmowreader 13 hrs ago #15
Welcome back. LoisB 13 hrs ago #16
Glad you're well enough to post malaise 13 hrs ago #17
Welcome back.Scottie Mom❤️ debm55 13 hrs ago #18
I'd probably look into forwarding it to Paypal radical noodle 12 hrs ago #19
Welcome back and thanks for sharing your laughter with us. littlemissmartypants 12 hrs ago #20
I would have provided a fake credit card number, expiration date, and CVV BeneteauBum 12 hrs ago #21

Scottie Mom

(5,844 posts)
2. So...how do you know this...
Sun Jun 21, 2026, 03:56 PM
14 hrs ago

...it's OK no to answer and plead the 5th! Thanks for the reply. That email made me laugh until I had tears running down my face!

Scottie Mom

(5,844 posts)
11. Really?
Sun Jun 21, 2026, 04:49 PM
14 hrs ago

No wonder I had this "need" to stay away from it. Every month -- when I did have PayPal years ago -- something was always screwed up. Also...when you received something from the seller and paid through PayPal and the purchase was a total piece of shit, PayPal usually stood behind the seller and not the buyer.

TVguyCards

(68 posts)
12. Yup, they sure do
Sun Jun 21, 2026, 04:53 PM
14 hrs ago


I believe CashApp & Zelle are the only 2 independents out there worth a damn.

MIButterfly

(3,434 posts)
5. Welcome back Scottie Mom!
Sun Jun 21, 2026, 04:06 PM
14 hrs ago

It's good to hear from you. I hope you're feeling and doing better. I wish you all the best.



I once got a voice mail that said it was from Sargeant Ryan of the IRS and if I did not immediately respond, it would be taken as a sign of aggression. I've forgotten what the repercussions would be but I was shaking in my boots (NOT!). LOL! Surprisingly I never heard from him again.

Scottie Mom

(5,844 posts)
6. When I first read the email, I panicked ... until I saw that the blackmailer took PAYPAL!!!!!
Sun Jun 21, 2026, 04:28 PM
14 hrs ago

Glad you never heard back from the Sgt from the IRS. I did not know that IRS employees had military ranks! LOL

Norrrm

(6,037 posts)
8. Can you ask them for details? Enquiring minds want to know.
Sun Jun 21, 2026, 04:34 PM
14 hrs ago

If the details are good enough, you/we might make some money off the internet.

Wonder Why

(7,356 posts)
9. You people got it all wrong. Mine said the same thing but presented me with a crypto account number.
Sun Jun 21, 2026, 04:41 PM
14 hrs ago
Send us $2000 in Bitcoin to the following wallet:

followed by the password I'll probably use the next time I sign up for an account on the porno sites I was supposed to have visited,

Unfortunately, Bitcoin refused to take the Trump gold-colored piggy bank that had a bunch of pennies and some slugs in it. I guess the slugs crawling out turned them off. They never did work as fake quarters, anyway.

Scottie Mom

(5,844 posts)
10. OMG...I nearly fell out of my desk chair!!
Sun Jun 21, 2026, 04:46 PM
14 hrs ago

Your response? I loved it and it made me LMAO!!!! Thank you for the reply. Oh...and the piggy bank! Perfect addition to the blackmail you received!

niyad

(135,221 posts)
13. Welcome back, Scotttie Mom. And you do not "owe" us anything. Your
Sun Jun 21, 2026, 04:57 PM
13 hrs ago

health and well-being are your priority.

What a scam. And paypal??? That is hilarious! I think I would respond by saying something like, "Seriously, if there were such images of me, people would be offering, even begging, to pay me to remove them."

jmowreader

(53,528 posts)
15. I got one that was even funnier
Sun Jun 21, 2026, 05:06 PM
13 hrs ago

The scammer said he had hijacked my webcam and recorded me doing terrible things while I watched porn, and if I didn't send him two bitcoins he would send these photos to my wife.

I have no webcam, don't watch porn and have no wife.

radical noodle

(10,735 posts)
19. I'd probably look into forwarding it to Paypal
Sun Jun 21, 2026, 06:16 PM
12 hrs ago

It's been my experience that they guard their reputation carefully.

littlemissmartypants

(35,389 posts)
20. Welcome back and thanks for sharing your laughter with us.
Sun Jun 21, 2026, 06:19 PM
12 hrs ago

Goodness knows we need all of the levity we can muster.

I'm glad you're feeling better! Love you back!

❤️

BeneteauBum

(933 posts)
21. I would have provided a fake credit card number, expiration date, and CVV
Sun Jun 21, 2026, 06:30 PM
12 hrs ago

Just to let them know I was laughing at them.

Peace ☮️

Latest Discussions»The DU Lounge»My blackmailer accepts Pa...