Stopping 'blackmail' emails

[#1]

For some time I have been receiving emails accusing me of having gone to 'naughty' websites, and stating that they have put a Trojan on my pc that can control my pc - I think it is a standard email rather than specific to me because it says it can turn on my camera which my desktop pc doesn't have. These emails continue by demanding payment from me to stop them spreading the word.

Fortunately, I have Mailwasher which I always use, to look at incoming emails so I can delete iffy ones before they get onto my pc. It is what I do with these - I have never responded and certainly never paid. However, I have noticed that Mailwasher states the latest came from my email address. Can an incoming email have its 'From Address' spoofed like incoming phone numbers can be?

Could it be that there is something that has got onto my pc that is generating these emails, as a result I am sending these to myself?

I have Malwarebytes Free, Microsoft Security Essentials, and Spybot S&D on my pc, and I use them, but, if the source is on my pc, they either don't find the source or cannot deal with it.

Another unlikely possibility - is it hiding on my Plusnet account?

Thanks for any help

[#2]

@penneck The chances are your email account has been gained from a site who has it, and their database has been hacked - I've fallen foul of this on a couple of sites in the past.

Once they have your address, they can use it in the 'from' field, which is why you see what you see. Like you, I have MW installed, and delete the offenders via webmail before they are downloaded.

The claim of a 'Trojan' is total hogwash.

[#3]

Here's one from 5 years ago...

You caught me doing what???

[#4]

Thanks to @Browni  & @jab1 . As I stated, I never replied, I just deleted. I was just thrown by the email apparently coming from my email account.

Could I blacklist my own email address in Mailwasher to stop receiving these, or would that prevent me sending emails too?

If I blacklisted my email address would the real sender get a 'blacklisted' response so they then knew I had at least received their email?

[#5]

@penneck Blacklisting your own address could be a bad idea, IMO - best bet is just to leave them for MW to reject - if they are ticked as spam/delete.

[#6]

I agree with @jab1 , the last thing you want to do is let the spammer know they have found an active email address.

[#7]

Thankyou @jab1  anf @Browni .

Yes I think just rely on MW and delete these emails when they turn up.

Regards. I think we can stop this topic now.