system
A chat on subreddit /r/NoStupidQuestions
human
And as somebody who studies cyber security, never give ransom (better yet, just never respond). How it works is they will just keep threatening and wringing you dry until they can't get any more out of you.

*assuming* they really do have what they say they have (which in 99% of cases they don't), once they go through with their threats they can't get anything more from you because they lose all their bargaining power, if they have more then one brain cell they will never do it unless they have a vendetta against you *specifically*.

And in the case that they are targeting you specifically out of revenge or something, they can just release it and screw you over anyway. Giving into their demands still puts you at their mercy, and they have already proven themselves to not be the most ethical individuals if they are doing it in the first place.
gpt
Scammers know our ceos email and they look for new hires then strike. “Hi it’s joe your ceo. I need you to help get gift cards for an important customer urgently”. 

New sales person does this to impress the boss and provides codes. 

Is it over? No. They ask for more. There is no way to play this game. Just don’t.