“Life is short, have an affair.” This is the tagline of the dating platform Ashley Madison. With the company marketing themselves as the dating app for married individuals looking for something extramarital. The application has created an idea of discretion that has lead to a rise in cases of online blackmail originating from their platform.
The worst thing many Ashley Madison users fear is their spouse uncovering their activities. However, the platform’s nature opens the door for cybercriminals. Many heard the news of the data breach in 2015, but not all consider the fact that perpetrators still run rampant on the service.
Ashley Madison users were targeted again in a less-covered sextortion email scam in 2020. Utilizing information from user’s accounts and activity, perpetrators were demanding around $1,000 in bitcoin in exchange for secrecy.
These are just the cases that were picked up by mainstream media. With the claim that “consenting adults should be able to do whatever they want in private,” the site is sought-after by more than just polygamists. This adult dating site has become a veritable hunting range for cybercriminals to target new victims for blackmail, sextortion, and other cyber scams.
Types of Blackmail That Occur on the Ashley Madison Platform.
With the information available through both data breaches and simply using the site, Ashley Madison leaves users vulnerable to multiple forms of online blackmail. In addition to traditional cyber extortion, the nature of exchanges on the site leads to an increased risk of sextortion.
The unique features and activity on Ashley Madison give rise to blackmail risks that differ from other dating apps. Understanding the different forms of threats posed on the site are critical for safe navigation and choosing the proper procedure if you fall victim.
Sensitive Information Exposure.
While sensitive data can be used for blackmail on any dating app, Ashley Madison’s business model and the general public opinion of those who use it make the site attractive to scammers.
The taboo sentiment around cheating can be enough for the perpetrator to coerce a potential victim. Unlike other dating app blackmail that requires some manipulation to extract sensitive data, the target’s appearance on the app alone can be leveraged.
Blackmailers can use the potential embarrassment of revealing the target’s Ashley Madison activities to carry out extortion. This happened with letters that were mailed to both users and their spouses threatening to expose their extramarital endeavors(1).
Sextortion on The Ashley Madison Platform.
Ashley Madison, like other similar services, is a prime target for dating app sextortion. The FTC lodged 282 reports of sextortion on Ashley Madison between 2019 and 2024(2). This is largely due to the ability to share intimate photos within the app.
With their Private Showcase Feature, Ashley Madison makes sextortion possible without needing to leave the platform. While there’s the obvious opportunity for perpetrators to lure in victims through romance scams, laxed security can lead to wide-spread sextortion not seen on other dating services.
Photos are kept private behind “keys” that users exchange to grant permission to their content.
However, the default setting has automatic private key exchanges turned on. With 64% of users not switching this feature off(3), accessing another’s private photos is as simple as sharing your own key.
Moreover, users also receive a URL when they gain access to a private key. Anyone can easily copy this link and access the private photos without the need for permission or even an Ashley Madison account. This exposes users to possible sextortion from perpetrators they have never communicated with.
What Are Warning Signs of Blackmail Scams on Ashley Madison?
- Sensitive Data Exposure: While there may not be many warning signs if the blackmailer is simply leveraging your Ashley Madison account, you should be wary of anyone you meet online that is asking for personal information. This can include addresses, passwords, and any data that can be used to identify and extort you.
- Sextortion: Sextortion on Ashley Madison comes with the same red flags as any other platform. Dating app sextortionist commonly move quickly, asking for intimate content and acting overly affectionate. You can learn more the global sextortion issue by reading our comprehensive sextortion article.
Who Are Most at Risk for Blackmail on Ashley Madison?
Scammers can easily single out their targets by setting filters such as age, sex, ethnicity, location, and financial status. This allows scammers to hand-pick individuals from particular demographics who they believe are more susceptible to their scheme.
Men are at the highest risk of facing blackmail on Ashley Madison, making up roughly 84% of the 2015 data breach dump(4). Of its claimed 5.5 million female users, it’s estimated that as low as 12,000 belonged to actual women(5).
Combine this with the fact that men received over 20 million messages from the 70,592 bot-accounts impersonating woman created solely by the platform itself(6), and it becomes clear that the men are at a higher danger of being scammed on the application.
This does not begin to account for fake profiles created by romance scammers and other criminals. Users are not required to confirm their email and female accounts are free, making it incredibly easy to reach men who will likely fall for romance scams and have already provided ample blackmail material.
What Should You Do If Blackmailed on Ashley Madison?
- End Communication: Don’t continue engaging the perpetrator, but keep communication lines open until after conducting the proper investigation.
- Don’t Pay Them: Never pay the perpetrator of any cybercrime as this will only lead to further extortion. Delay payments with elaborate stories to avoid retaliatory action.
- Gather Evidence: Take screenshots of any accounts, messages, or other data that will help create an accurate timeline of the crime.
Is It Safe to Report Blackmail from Ashley Madison to The Police?
Yes, the first step you should take when experiencing any online blackmail is filing a police report. The nature of the report may be embarrassing, but the police are professionals and you should proceed without fear of judgement. Based on the specifics of your case, you local police may suggest you file additional reports with a national law enforcement agency. In the United States, this would be the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center.
Seek Help from a Cyber Security Firm.
You should seek the assistance of cyber security professionals if the blackmailer is not within the jurisdiction of local police. These agencies are capable of uncovering the identities of these criminals and connect you with corresponding law enforcement that can hold them accountable.
What Legal Options Are Available to Blackmail Victims?
While Ashley Madison did eventually pay settlements of $1.6 million to the FTC and $11.2 million to the users impacted by the 2015 breach, this is not always the case with individual cases.
Your best course of action would be to speak with an attorney after collecting evidence. They will be able to advise you on the best course of legal action and aid you in crafting your case.
How To Protect Yourself from Blackmail on Ashley Madison.
If you still decide to continue using the Ashley Madison platform, it is advised that you consider the following precautions to avoid potential blackmail.
- Keep Your Information Secure: Disable the default automatic exchange of private keys, avoid using photos of yourself that can be linked to other online accounts, and don’t give out any personal information.
- Be Cautious When Meeting New Profiles: With the plethora of bots and the ease of creating a fake account with no verification, you should be wary of people who are not who they claim to be.
- Don’t Send Content to Unknown Accounts: Sharing intimate or personal content with anybody you don’t know is ill-advised and opens the door for sextortion and other crimes on Ashley Madison and any other platform.
Can Digital Forensics Corp Help with Ashley Madison Blackmail Cases?
Yes, our team at DFC is ready to assist you in the event of any online blackmail. Our analysts are capable of identifying your attacker through the use of IP tracking, email metadata analysis, and other methods that enable us to locate the perpetrator and remove their leverage.
If you or someone you know has become a victim of blackmail on Ashley Madison or any other online service, reach out to our Blackmail Helpline today for a free consultation.
Sources:
- Spouses of Ashley Madison users targeted with blackmail letters | Ashley Madison | The Guardian
- ‘This Will Ruin My Life and Career’: Cheating Site Ashley Madison Is Overflowing With Sextortionists
- Data Breach Reports Archive — 2017 | MacKeeper
- Ashley Madison made a lot of money, and created very few affairs
- Ashley Madison created fake profiles of women, report finds – CBS News
- Ashley Madison Code Shows More Women, and More Bots
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