It wasn't clear where this belongs, this is my best guess.

I want to rent mining hardware hosting.  No, I don't expect to "make a profit".  What I do expect:

o To pay via credit card.  Having mined BTC escrowed until the CC transaction is permanent is understandable.
o To choose which mining pool to use.
o An effective USD -> BTC rate competitive to BTM machines (which of course includes a healthy profit for the operator).
o Visibility of escrowed payouts during the escrow phase.
o After the escrow period, my chosen mining pool provides visibility of hashrate and makes payouts directly to my wallet.

I have mining hardware in my home, but at current difficulties, it is too noisy (fans).  I have used BTM machines, but they are becoming too invasive (not the operators fault - government requirements).  In person cash transactions have minimums that are too high.

I tried a small amount on genesis-mining, but the total lack of feedback makes me suspect it is a scam.  Plus, they don't let me choose the mining pool.  I have a (possibly irrational) loyalty to Eligius.

Paying for BTC mining rentals with BTC is counter productive - as it effectively donates BTC to the operator.  Mining rentals only make sense economic sense when paying with a currency different from the one being mined.  The operator might as well just keep all the BTC mined and skip the rental.  You are effectively making a negative interest loan to the operator!

The claims are not plausible, but this is the threat I received.  This is in the US.  Besides reporting to the FBI email fraud mailbox (FWIW), what should be done with this kind of thing?  I looked on blockchain.info, and no one seems to have sent any bitcoin (just 3 small transactions - apparently to test his/her wallet).   Assuming the scammer initiated the 3 transactions, do they provide any clues?

Unfortunately your data was leaked in the recent hacking of the Patreon web site and I now have your information. I have your tax id, tax forms, SSN, DOB, Name, Address, Credit card details and more sensitive data. Now, I can go ahead and leak your details online which would damage your credit score like hell and would create a lot of problems for you.

If you would like to prevent me from doing this then you need to send 1 bitcoin to the following BTC address.

Bitcoin Address:

1QAQTyhCzAfvp8uLpneBNamWTNRR1hx9Cp

You can buy bitcoins using online exchanges easily. The bitcoin address is unique to you. Sending bitcoin takes take, so you better get started right now, you have 48 hours in total.