A PORN scam that tricks you into handing over thousands of pounds to hackers is doing the rounds online.

Cybersecurity experts have issued a fresh warning about rogue emails that try to "sextort" you out of your hard-earned cash.

As the public gets savvier about dodgy cyber-attacks, hackers up their game – and make their digital tricks more elaborate.

The latest scam email you need to be wary of involves fake threats of blackmail, according to security firm Sophos.

Hackers will claim to have cracked your computer, and recorded your screen (plus webcam footage) of you watching porn online.

They'll then demand a payment using the virtual Bitcoin currency, sometimes totalling thousands of pounds.

"I created a double-screen video. First part shows the video you were watching (you've got a good taste haha...) and second part shows the recording of your web cam," one example of a scam email reads.

"Exactly what should you do?

"Well, in my opinion, [AMOUNT] is a fair price for our little secret.

"You'll make the payment by Bitcoin (if you do not know this, search 'how to buy Bitcoin' in Google."

It sounds like an easy scam to spot, but the emails can seem alarmingly real.

That's because the hackers include your phone number in the email address.

Sophos security expert Paul Ducklin explains that it's likely hackers bought a cracked list of emails and phone numbers, and are using it to trick you – by making their email seem more legitimate.

"The crooks seem to have got hold of a list that ties email addresses and phone numbers together, so they're putting your phone number (or at least what they think is your phone number) into the email," Ducklin reveals.

But the scam is a complete hoax.

After all, if they had footage of you watching porn, they would've shared it as proof in the email.

Nevertheless, Ducklin believes victims may have actually paid up to avoid getting "exposed".

It's possible to track payments made to Bitcoin addresses, and Ducklin did just that.

It emerged that a total of 20 payments had been made to the hacker's Bitcoin address, three of which totalled at least $1,000 (or £785).

Of course, these payments didn't necessarily come from victims – but they may well have.

So what should you do if you receive one of these sextortion emails? Ducklin says to just ignore it.

He explains: "Even if the crooks had hacked your computer and recorded material you wish they hadn't (it needn't be porn, of course, why pay them not to reveal data that they already possess?"

"Paying the crooks not to do something, they can just threaten to do it again next week, month, year.

"So it won't get you anywhere, except to mark you out as someone who already knows how to buy and spend Bitcoins."

Better still, if you see an online scam in the UK, it's a good idea to contact the police's Action Fraud unit.

You can call them on 0300 123 2040, or use the online fraud reporting tool here.