Stop the Extortion: How to Report Internet Blackmail

Internet blackmail continues to be an online safety threat and the number of victims is increasing at an alarming rate. Criminals are using social engineering tactics and the latest technology to target people worldwide. With blackmail becoming such a danger, you need to be aware of the current tactics of online blackmail and how you should respond in case you become a victim. Let’s start with the basic definition. 

Online blackmail is a form of extortion that developed with the internet. It’s defined as coercing someone to act by threatening to reveal compromising or damaging information. On the internet, blackmailers can use anything from bank or credit card information accessed in a data breach to private images and secret messages. There are three main types of internet blackmail: sextortion, sexploitation, and sensitive information blackmail.  

Sextortion is when the cybercriminal uses the victim’s explicit images or videos to demand financial compensation. Sexploitation, on the other hand, is when a blackmailer uses explicit images or videos but instead of demanding money, they want sexual favors or additional content. Sensitive information blackmail is when any private information, that is not sexual, is used to coerce the victim into an action.  

How should you respond to being blackmailed? The immediate actions you take are important factors in how the situation will end. There are ways to report internet blackmail and tactics that lower the chances of your damaging information from getting released. Here is what you can do when you are faced with online blackmail. 

What to Do When Faced with Internet Blackmail 

Dealing with online blackmail is terrible and depending on the information being threatened, can be downright traumatizing. This is intentional as blackmailers use social engineering to invoke extreme feelings of fear, anxiety, and urgency. Despite the intense situation, it’s important to not make a rash decision. Instead, use these steps as a guide on how to immediately respond to blackmail. 

• Do NOT Pay: In most cases, the main goal of blackmailers is to convince victims to give them money. If you pay the perpetrator, this will only communicate that you have the money and desperation to meet their demands. 

• Do NOT Block: Perpetrators can see when you block them and ignoring the perpetrator is not the best strategy when dealing with online blackmail. They often will angrily respond by exposing your private information. A better option is to report internet blackmail to the platform administrators. A report can get the profile removed anonymously and without retaliation. 

• Document Everything: Taking evidence of the blackmail gives you a lot more options when deciding how to respond. Make sure to get screenshots of emails, messages, and any other form of communication. Keep the evidence secure on a separate device. 

• Lock Down Your Accounts and Devices: If the scammer accessed your information through a data breach, you need to purge your device of any malware immediately. For online accounts, you need to change your passwords and turn on two-factor authentication. 

Reporting Internet Blackmail to Law Enforcement 

In a report created by Digital Forensics Corp., a leader in fighting cybercrimes, ninety-eight percent of victims never reported their blackmail to law enforcement. Even less reported the internet blackmail on the online platform where the conversation happened⁽¹⁾. However, reporting internet blackmail to your local police and the FBI is one of the best ways to fight against the online safety threat. Not only can it help you but it also prevents the perpetrator from attacking more people. 

• Local Law Enforcement: First and foremost, contact your local police department. They will help you with the next steps you should take. If they have the resources, the local authorities may be able to track the IP address of the perpetrator. You can also use your gathered evidence to file a report with the police. This will be official documentation that can be used in future court cases or investigations. However, local police departments are limited by jurisdiction and lose effectiveness when the crime crosses state or country borders. 

• Federal Law Enforcement: The Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) is a database of cybercrimes run by the FBI. You should always report internet blackmail to the IC3 because the bureau uses the database to initiate investigations. The IC3 can also analyze your case and refer it to the federal, state, or even international authorities that is most relevant⁽²⁾. The FBI is not limited by jurisdiction and has connections to the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol). When it comes to investigations, the IC3 can help the FBI track crime trends across the country and potentially build a better case against certain criminals.  

• National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC): The NCMEC is a non-profit that helps missing or exploited minors and prevents abductions. They have a CyberTipline for victims of sextortion that is always open⁽³⁾. NCMEC also created Take It Down, a tool to remove explicit images or videos from the internet. Users are able to upload an image into Take It Down which will then assign a unique digital fingerprint to the image so that platforms can automatically detect and remove the image before being shared⁽⁴⁾. 

Other Reporting Options 

Reporting internet blackmail to the authorities is always recommended but it can take some time for them to make progress on your case. In the meantime, there are ways you can protect yourself as a victim of online blackmail. If you were targeted on social media, you can report the blackmail to the platform authorities. 

Social Media Platforms 

Social media is widely used by scammers to find victims. In cases like sextortion, criminals will use social media to discover the victim’s family and friends. Many platforms are working to fight online blackmail and they each have set up a reporting system to identify harmful profiles, messages, or posts. 

• Facebook and Instagram: Meta makes reporting internet blackmail very easy. You can report a harmful post, message, or profile by clicking on the three dots on the screen. For sextortion, you can report the crime using the “Adult content” option. For blackmail in general, you can report the crime with the “Bullying, harassment, or abuse” option.  

• Snapchat: This platform is popular for sextortion. Many people feel more comfortable sharing explicit content because messages and stories expire after a short amount of time. However, this is exactly what cybercriminals prey on. Luckily, Snapchat has a reporting option for sextortion. Simply select “Report”, then “They’re posting inappropriate content”, and then “They leaked/are threatening to leak my nudes.” 

• TikTok: Although not as popular as Facebook for catfishers, TikTok still has plenty of cybercriminals on the platform. You can report a post, message, or profile for blackmail under the “hate and harassment” option. 

• Twitter/X: The administrators for Twitter are not as quick to respond to reports of sextortion. The platform allows explicit content and struggles to differentiate between non-consensual intimate imagery and content that still meets their community standards. You can report blackmail and sextortion by clicking on the three dots and selecting the “privacy” option. Then, you simply need to choose the option that best fits your circumstance. 

Cybersecurity Professionals 

Reporting internet blackmail to cybersecurity firms is an effective way to have all of your concerns addressed in a timely manner. These experts can repair a data breach that came from a phishing scam or work with you to resolve a blackmail situation. Cybersecurity professionals can also use digital forensics and social engineering to identify the culprit, helping bring the evidence to the authorities for prosecution. Last but never least, they can guide you in online safety to make sure you avoid future blackmail and phishing scams. 

Seeking Support and Assistance 

Blackmail takes a toll on you. The constant anxiety of your private information being sent to family or friends is a lot to handle. On top of that, blackmailers will do their best to use fear to cause distress. It’s important to talk to a mental health professional during this time. They can help talk you through your options or just be a listening ear.  

However, talking with anyone can benefit your mental health and that could be a friend, family member, or a support organization like the Cyber Civil Rights Initiative (CCRI) or the NCMEC’s mental health services for minors. 

An attorney can also help victims look at their legal options across the U.S. If you have the identity of the blackmailer, the lawyer can take him to civil court to file a lawsuit for damages. However, they are under the same limitations as the local police department. Attorneys are only effective in their jurisdiction. 

Preventing Future Blackmail 

Spreading awareness about online safety is the best way we can continue the fight against blackmail. There are sophisticated tactics used by cybercriminals like social engineering and phishing scams that trick people into providing their private information unwittingly. Make sure you reinforce the cybersecurity on all of your accounts and stay aware of the latest online safety threats. Here are a few more ways to prevent being blackmailed in the future.  

• Avoid clicking on links in phishing scams: These cyberattacks are when a criminal tricks a victim into revealing their personal information, most commonly through a malicious link. Criminals will often pose as institutions or real people in phishing scams. Remember to never click on a link before checking the destination and always verify the sender. 

• Strong Passwords: Your passwords should be 12 – 16 words and a mix of different characters like upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. 

• Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): This process is when a user is required to verify their identity in two different ways. 2FA can stop hackers from cracking into your account even after a data breach. 

• Privacy Settings: Review and adjust privacy settings on social media and other online platforms. Make your account private and limit who can send you messages. 

• Online Safety: Educate yourself on the best practices regarding cybersecurity along with the current phishing and social engineering tactics to watch out for. 

Don’t Let Fear Make You A Paycheck 

At Digital Forensic Corp., we understand cybercriminals better than anyone. We know their scams, social engineering techniques, and most importantly, their motivations. Our experts use this knowledge to work on your behalf and take over communications with the perpetrator.  

This is where our digital forensics team comes in. They analyze the data left by the culprit and trace their location. All the information we’ve gathered is then used to identify the perpetrator and to remove your damaging information from their device. We provide all these services and more based around your schedule and budget. Call Digital Forensics Corp. today if you want us to fight your blackmailer on your behalf. 

Sources: 

1. https://www.digitalforensics.com/blog/news/sextortion-report-press-release/ 
2. https://www.ic3.gov/ 
3. https://www.missingkids.org/gethelpnow/cybertipline 
4. https://takeitdown.ncmec.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/takeitdown-how-it-works-handout_updated-5.3.23.pdf 

DISCLAIMER: THIS POST IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSIDERED LEGAL ADVICE ON ANY SUBJECT MATTER. DIGITAL FORENSICS CORP. IS NOT A LAWFIRM AND DOES NOT PROVIDE LEGAL ADVICE OR SERVICES. By viewing posts, the reader understands there is no attorney-client relationship, the post should not be used as a substitute for legal advice from a licensed professional attorney, and readers are urged to consult their own legal counsel on any specific legal questions concerning a specific situation.