What To Do If Blackmailed On Facebook?

We’ve all heard the horrifying stories, the situation no Facebook user wants to face. The one where a total stranger threatens to post embarrassing content about you unless you pay them. Facebook blackmail is a serious problem that’s worsening. If you’re dealing with something like this, you’re likely searching for a solution to stop the blackmail. Luckily, victims of this cybercrime do not need to suffer in silence, nor do they need to comply with the demands of their blackmailer. Continue reading for tips on how to stop blackmail on Facebook.

First Step to Stopping Blackmail on Any Social Channel.

The best way to deal with your blackmailer is to stay cool, calm, and composed. It’s natural to feel an emotional rush, but letting fear or anger drive your decisions can make things worse.
You may be tempted to pay right away, but this is an urge you must resist. Don’t pay a blackmailer! Complying with their demands won’t solve the problem. Even if the threat is real, paying them only encourages them to continue threatening you.

Never Pay A Blackmailer

Remember, paying even a small amount doesn’t guarantee your safety. Instead, focus on getting the incriminating content out of your blackmailer’s hands. A good first step is to buy yourself time while you seek help from professionals by deploying delay tactics. If you need help stalling your blackmailer, check out our resources to guide you through these initial moments, including tips on how to keep your blackmailer at bay.

Do Not Block Any Accounts

Blocking someone who’s blackmailing you is not the right answer. If you’ve shared intimate content, such as nudes or personal information, cutting off contact might actually increase the risk of exposure and make them more aggressive in their threats.
Instead, keep the lines of communication open. This might seem contradictory, but it can actually work in your favor. By maintaining contact with the blackmailer, you can play a key role in helping the authorities and cybersecurity professionals track their location and identity. This can be a powerful tool to help you put an end to this situation.

Organizations That Help Stop Facebook Blackmail

If you’re facing blackmail on Facebook, several organizations and entities can help you. Each of these options comes with its own set of pros and cons:

1. Law Enforcement: Local police have the authority to investigate the matter thoroughly and take legal action against the perpetrator if they are in the correct jurisdiction.
   • Benefits: Reporting to the police can help track down the blackmailer and, in extreme cases, lead to their arrest.
   • Drawbacks: They may have limited resources or may not prioritize cybercrimes. Also, if your blackmailer is not located in the same state/country as you, jurisdictional restrictions can cause delays.
2. Cybersecurity Companies: These companies focus on protecting data, detecting threats, and stopping blackmail by addressing the root cause.
   • Benefits: Cybersecurity firms use advanced technology to help remove content, trace cybercriminals, and secure your online presence.
   • Drawbacks: Not all companies offer the same level of support or expertise in dealing with online blackmail. They also charge for their services.
3. Meta Administrators (Facebook’s Parent Company): If you are being threatened with exposure on Facebook, Meta offers tools to report blackmail and abusive behavior across its platforms. These tools may help remove your blackmailer’s account.
   • Benefits: They can take down harmful content and sometimes identify the perpetrators.
   • Drawbacks: Response times can vary, and their support may not be sufficient to prevent the blackmailer from leaking your content on other accounts or platforms.
4. Take It Down/Non-Profits: Non-profit organizations help victims of online blackmail whose content has been or may be leaked.
   • Benefits: Organizations like Take It Down provide resources to remove explicit images and content from social platforms, helping reduce exposure and prevent future incidents.
   • Drawbacks: These organizations do not confront blackmailers directly, and most of their services are geared toward cases where content has already been exposed.

Will Your Blackmailer Follow Through With Their Threats?

You may wonder whether your blackmailer will actually carry out their threats. According to recent data from a study conducted by digital forensics, around 42% of online blackmailers escalate their threats by releasing sensitive material when their demands aren’t met, regardless of whether the victim paid⁽¹⁾.

Facebook is a massive platform, making it crucial to handle these cases with extra caution. Why? Blackmailers often exploit Facebook’s vast reach to amplify the urgency and seriousness of their threats. In many sextortion cases on Facebook, blackmailers create fake group messages showing threats to share the victim’s content with their close friends and family.

What is the Impact of Exposure?

The fear that your personal information could be made public is terrifying. This constant stress can significantly impact your life, affecting your relationships, work, and overall happiness. It’s difficult to imagine how that content could be seen by your family and friends, as it could damage your relationships. Even worse, it may destroy your reputation.
But the consequences don’t stop there. Your career could be at stake, especially if your job depends on maintaining a positive reputation. Victims have lost jobs, experienced relationship breakdowns, and faced intense public scrutiny, all because of social media blackmail.

Get Help From Digital Forensics Corp.

If you think someone is using your personal info on Facebook in a way that could be dangerous, we’re here to help. As a cybersecurity firm, we assist both businesses and individuals who have fallen victim to digital attacks, including online blackmail, sextortion, and other online crimes.

With the rise of online blackmail, we’ve developed a specialized and unique system to stop blackmailers by removing their anonymity. Here’s how we can help:

• We use advanced techniques to gather data, identify the blackmailer, and trace their activities.
• Our dedicated team works tirelessly to remove harmful content and prevent future leaks by leveraging our resources and expertise.
• If content is leaked, we act swiftly to minimize exposure and ensure your reputation stays intact.

Our team is available 24/7 to offer immediate assistance, ensuring you receive the support you need when it matters most. If you’re facing online blackmail on Facebook or any other platform, don’t hesitate to reach out to us.

Sources:

1. Statistic on Exposure: https://www.digitalforensics.com/blog/sextortion-online/how-often-do-sextortionists-follow-through/

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.