Dating apps often attract sextortionist as the nature of these platforms attracts a userbase that will be more susceptible to their schemes. They also provide quick and easy communication with millions of potential targets.
This is amplified when the target’s presence on the app may be something they want kept secret. Not only does this add to the leverage at the blackmailer’s disposal; it may also deter the victim from reporting the crime.
This leads to LGBTQ+ dating platforms, such as Adam4Adam, being sought after by sextortionists. While this information is not meant to discourage users of the platform, it is meant to showcase ways that you can successfully prevent, report, and recover from sextortion scams on Adam4Adam.
Understanding Sextortion on Adam4Adam
In order to properly combat Adam4Adam sextortion, you must understand how and why it occurs. Being privy to the perpetrator’s process and understanding the risks posed by the platform can allow you to develop a plan to safely navigate the site.
Common Sextortion Tactics
Like other platforms, sextortionists on Adam4Adam follow a similar process when carrying out their attacks. The typical series of events is as follows:
- The scammer makes contact with their target, typically under the guise of a catfish identity, and begins establishing a fake relationship. They often research their target’s digital footprint to craft the persona of the ideal partner.
- After building a fraudulent foundation of trust, the perpetrator will sexualize the conversation and ask for intimate content. Depending on the nature of the proposed encounter, this may happen quickly.
- Once this content is exchanged, the scammer saves the images. The victim is immediately blackmailed with threats of having this content sent to close contacts if they don’t pay the sextortionist’s demands.
However, there are aspects of Adam4Adam that heighten the risk of sextortion and other forms of online blackmail.
Unique Risks on Adam4Adam
Adam4Adam’s target userbase can create an additional risk factor that is not seen on other dating platforms. For example, members of the community who are not public about their sexual orientation may be blackmailed simply for being on the site.
Additionally, the promotion of “hot hookups”, the advertisements for adult websites and performance supplements, and the allowance of escort listings create an online environment where users feel more inclined to participate in risky behaviors. These types of interactions can leave users vulnerable to blackmail and sextortion on Adam4Adam.
Psychological Impact on Victims
Adam4Adam sextortion can cause distress that extends far past the financial and reputational damage. Victims are often plagued with an intense sense of shame, fear, and anxiety that are often a life-long battle.
One man who was a victim of sextortion on a LGBTQ+ dating app said that six years later, he was still deeply impacted by his abuse. His sextortionist prefaced his demands by saying, “Can I ask you a question?” To this day, hearing that phrase still brings him back to his “own special hell(1).”
Prevention Strategies
It’s critical that you take steps to safeguard yourself from sextortion on Adam4Adam before a threat arises. The following actionable strategies can make the difference between getting sextorted and safely populating the platform.
- Verifying User Identities: Be cautious of online strangers with profiles that have limited information, suspicious photos, and were recently created. You can use reverse image search tools to see if their photos appear anywhere else online.
- Protecting Personal Information: Avoid sharing sensitive details like your full name, address, or workplace. It is advised to use a separate email address when opening a profile on dating apps.
- Communicating Safely: Don’t send intimate images to individuals on dating apps that you’ve never met before. Using encrypted messaging platforms, such as Whatsapp and Telegram can add an extra level of protection to your online communication.
- Setting Boundaries: Don’t partake in any online activities that you aren’t comfortable with. If something feels off about an internet interaction, trust your gut and cease communication.
What to Do If You’re a Victim of Adam4Adam Sextortion
If your situation has advanced past the point of prevention, you need to act quickly. As with any cyber scam, you should never pay the perpetrator. Create a clever excuse to delay payment and avoid blocking the bad actor while you complete the following course of action.
Document Everything
You will want to record anything from your interaction that can be used to identify the scammer and construct an accurate timeline that proves illegal action was taken against you. This includes chat logs containing threatening or relevant messages, profiles of the perpetrators, and any links and attachments that were shared with you.
Report to Adam4Adam
Reporting internet blackmail and sextortion on Adam4Adam differs slightly between the desktop and mobile versions of the platform. When filing a report:
- Go to the profile of the perpetrator
- Click the orange “Report This User” under the profile picture on the left-hand side on desktop or tap “MORE” under the star icon on the right-hand side on mobile
- Select the reason for the report, provide as much information as possible, and click “Report”(2)
Reporting blackmailers and other bad actors on the platforms where they carry out their crimes is beneficial for everyone. These reports can help protect you and other users from future abuse.
Contact Law Enforcement
With the evidence you’ve collected, you should next file a report with your local police. If they don’t have jurisdiction to pursue the perpetrator, this report will still serve as valuable documentation for future legal action.
Your next step should be contacting the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). They are responsible for fielding all cybercrime reports and can prosecute perpetrators throughout the country and collaborate with foreign agencies if the incident occurred internationally.
Seek Emotional Support
Sextortion is difficult to navigate, and even more so if you try doing it alone. It may feel embarrassing, but consulting your support system can be extremely helpful. Consider talking to a trusted friend, family member, therapist, or support group for sextortion victims.
Digital Forensics Corp: Fighting Back Against Sextortion
If you’re a victim of Adam4Adam sextortion or any other cybercrime, you’ve come to the right place. DFC is ready to assist you by investigating and documenting the event. Furthermore, we can provide ongoing monitoring and reputational recovery to help protect you from similar scams in the future.
Expertise in Cybercrime Investigations
Our team of experts has years of experience investigating cases of sextortion. Our advanced techniques, such as metadata analysis, device fingerprinting, and IP tracking allow us to identify and locate the sextortionist.
We can offer assistance in your investigation through the following services:
Gathering Evidence and Building a Case
We understand the importance of carefully collecting and preserving evidence and can utilize techniques such as disk imaging to retrieve data, even if it’s been deleted. Furthermore, we understand how to properly document the evidence we’ve collected to ensure that it is admissible in legal proceedings.
Online Reputation Management
We can help you mitigate damage to your reputation by ensuring a full deletion of your sensitive media from the device of the perpetrator. This includes investigating backup storage devices to remove any trace of your data.
Some steps you can take to protect your digital reputation and avoid online blackmail include:
- Avoid oversharing on online platforms
- Utilize privacy settings to limit who can see your profile
- Use 2FA on platforms that provide it
Providing Support and Guidance
After your case is resolved, the battle doesn’t conclude. Cybersecurity is an everlasting task and the ramifications of sextortion and blackmail on Adam4Adam and other online platforms can impact victims far past the conclusion of the crime.
Not only will DFC provide ongoing monitoring and security assessment to help you avoid future scams, but we can also connect you to resources who can provide emotional support. The psychological damage of Adam4Adam sextortion can be more detrimental than the financial loss, but having a support system can help alleviate some of this distress.
If you have been the victim of Adam4Adam sextortion, don’t suffer alone any longer. Reach out to our Sextortion Helpline today. You can speak with one of our specials who can help you figure out your next move for free and in total confidence.
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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.
