What is Online Blackmail and Sextortion?

Sextortion is a form of blackmail where someone threatens to share intimate images of you online unless you pay them.  Criminals often use a fake identity to befriend victims online only to use information or intimate images obtained during conversations with their victims against them.  Usually, such criminals threaten to share the images or information with your spouse, employer, children, or friends list if you do not pay them a certain amount of money or additional intimate images.  If you find that you have become a victim of sextortion or online blackmail, call the police.

Sextortion is an increasingly common crime. A public service announcement released by the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center indicated that it received more than 16,000 sextortion complaints in a seven month period in 2021.

What can be Done About Online Blackmail and Sextortion?

Though every situation is different, our office generally recommends undertaking the following steps. First, delete all social media accounts where the person sextorting you might be able to look to find lists and a means to contact your friends, family members, or employer.  Second, discontinue communication with this individual.  Third, and most importantly, do not pay the person sextorting you.  In our experience, once a criminal learns that you are willing to pay their demands, they will only continue making them.  If the person assures you they will delete your images, videos, or other information after receiving payment, remember you are relying on the word of a criminal.  Once you can no longer afford to make payments, there is no guarantee they will not follow through on their threat, leaving you in the same situation you were in prior to making payments.

The FBI further advises individuals who are receiving sextortion threats to undertake the following acts:

- Remember you are not alone as thousands are victimized by this scam.

- Stop all interaction with the extortionist and do not be embarrassed or afraid to contact law enforcement.

- File a complaint with the FBI IC3 at www.ic3.gov.

Unfortunately, it is very difficult for civil attorneys to track down people who engage in extortion.  Many such criminals are overseas or use VPNs or other tools that make it difficult, if not impossible to track down their true identities and hold them responsible for their crimes and misdeeds.