Springbok No.8 Duane Vermeulen victim of blackmail plot
Springbok No.8 Duane Vermeulen has revealed that he was the target of a blackmail plot, after criminals hacked into his email, PayPal and social media accounts this week.
After wreaking havoc with his online accounts, the hackers then decided to take it a step further and threaten him, demanding he pay a ransom of at least ZAR8000 or things “were going to get a lot worse”.
Vermeulen told Afrikaanse Sunday paper Rapport that the problem all started when he received an innocuous email that looked like it originated from Instagram.
In the email, the scammers suggested he change his status from that of a normal ‘user’ to one of a “creator”.
“I know how this sounds, but the email looked absolutely genuine,” said the big No.8.
“Every now and then we post pictures to Instagram for sponsors and according to the email this was in violation of Instagram’s rules, therefore I was requested to change my status. However, when I clicked on the link to do so it took me to a completely different site. I immediately tried to leave but by that time it was too late”
Before he knew it the hackers had already attempted to use his PayPal account to make a number of purchases, but fortuitously the big man’s wife had his login details and could get into the account and stop the thieves.
In the meantime, the hackers began to threaten Vermeulen with blackmail via WhatsApp. They had his ID number and login details for email, PayPal, Instagram and Twitter and told him they were going to take over his Whatsapp as well unless he coughed up US$500 (approx. ZAR8900)
One of the messages was that if he attempted to block them on WhatsApp things would only get worse for him. On top of this the hackers also got onto Vermeulens social media accounts and attempted to sell US$500 worth of Bitcoin to his over 100,000 followers.
“You know that if you pay it’s not going to stop,” said Vermeulen “When I started to do some investigating I found that this had happened with a lot of people which is really bad as you tend to lose the commercial value of your followers.”
Vermeulen then brought in forensic experts for help.
“I closed my Twitter account and opened a new Instagram account but I’m still busy trying to get my old accounts back under control again.”
Conrad David director of the digital consultants “Hashtag South Africa” said this can happen to anyone. “Be really careful before clicking on links that you haven’t requested”
“Social media platforms will never ask for permission to make changes without your having already asked for them,” he said.
It’s also really important to check the email address where the email originates from. If it isn’t from the social media platform themselves then it’s likely to be false.
Perhaps if they find the hackers they can let Duane have the pleasure of a word or two with them personally, in a locked room?
This article first appeared in Rugby 365 and is published here with permission.
Comments on RugbyPass
Bar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
9 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
35 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
35 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
35 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
35 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
35 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
35 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
35 Go to commentsArdie’s preferred position 7? Where do they get these writers from? I've no idea where he's playing in Japan, but the previous two seasons he wore the 7 jersey exactly twice.
18 Go to comments