For anyone who has been confronted with the threat of sextortion, they likely ask some version of the same question. “Will Your Sextortionist Follow Through?” In cases of sextortion, where a cybercriminal threatens to release sexual content of a victim unless they pay them, this is a real question and one that Digital Forensics Corp. receives daily from sextortion victims.
Will Your Sextortionist Follow Through On Their Threats?
It is a possibility. From a 2023 survey conducted by Digital Forensics Corp. *, there was a 42% chance that, even if paid, a blackmailer could still follow through with their threat and release the incriminating images or videos they had of their victim.
Although this number is alarming, it’s important to understand that victims can take action to stop a sextortionist from exposing their photos or videos. Stopping sextortion involves being proactive, and victims should work with the right professionals to have their content removed from the blackmailer’s possession and prevent future threats.
What Stops a Sextortionist from Following Through?
For most sextortion scams, the goal of their blackmail is not to embarrass or humiliate their victim. Their goal is to hold leverage over their victim to extort them for as much money as possible. By using fear tactics and citing their ability to ruin their victim’s reputation, their hope is that they can continuously send request for money in exchange for continued silence. Depending on the victim, this extortion can begin at a low dollar amount and build overtime with the cybercriminal continuously testing the victim’s desire to keep their content private. Below is a list of the top reasons why sextortionist do not typically release the content they have on their victims.
- Loss of Leverage: If the blackmailer releases the content they have on their victim, they lose the leverage that would help them achieve their financial goals.
- Increased Criminal Activity: Releasing this content also adds to their list of crimes. While sextortion is a crime punishable by law, the release of explicit content without consent is also a crime with special considerations given if their victim is a minor. Cybercriminals are hoping to conduct their scams with anonymity and increased criminal charges can
While this does not offer proper insurance against the potential release of a victim’s content, it can give the victim time to fight back.
Factors That May Increase the Chances of a Blackmailer Following Through
A blackmailer’s decision to follow through with sextortion threats is influenced by several factors. Below are four vulnerabilities which our team of experts have advised increase the likelihood of the content being shared in cases of sextortion:
- The Victim: If the victim is a celebrity or a high-net-worth individual, a blackmailer may perceive this as a vulnerability to exploit. This could increase the likelihood that they may follow through with their threats.
- Previous Compliance with Demands: If a victim agrees to any payments demanded by a blackmailer, it creates an expectation for future payments.
- Communication With the Victim: While it is natural for a sextortion victim to feel angry, continuing to respond to the blackmailer’s messages may increase the likelihood that they will release the content.
- Rash Decisions: Cyber criminals can act irrationally if they feel strung along or frustrated; they might impulsively release their leverage.
Are Blackmailers More Likely to Follow Through And Leak Your Content On Social Media?
The likelihood of a blackmailer leaking explicit content on social media depends significantly on the platform’s ability to recognize and prevent the sharing of such material. Below is an overview of various platforms:
Social Media Platforms That Can and Can’t Prevent Nude Leaks
- Instagram (Meta): Instagram employs AI-based filters to detect and blur explicit content sent in direct messages and also warns the recipient that the content is potentially sensitive. However, it does not prevent the recipient from opening and viewing the content.
The program requires users to report the content as NCII before it can remove it and potentially prevent re-upload through hash-based matching. - Facebook Messenger (Meta): Like Instagram, Meta does deploy similar AI to detect, blur, and warn recipients before they open explicit content. However, it does not prevent the opening of the content and also uses the same method to remove the NCII content from their platform.
- TikTok: The TikTok platform prevents the sending of sexually explicit images and videos altogether. Making it one of the few social media platforms where direct content exposure or nude leaks can not occur. Their admins have even taken steps to prevent exposure by implementing warnings for links that lead to exposure sites.
- Snapchat: Snapchat uses AI-powered detection which can flag and warn users about a content being deemed inappropriate, but it does not prevent opening unless the user is underage or has parental controls on.
- WhatsApp: Provides not controls for content. Exposure can occur without any blurring. The app currently relies on its reporting feature to flag and remove accounts associated with sextortion and online blackmail.
- Discord: Discord servers allow explicit images to be shared and received without any warnings or protection. You must report to the blackmail to Discord administrators and follow-up to prevent nude leaks on the application.
- Twitter/X: The platform does not have any safety controls which would prevent the exposure of sextortion victims via public posts. The system does prevent the sending of explicit content via direct message. Reporting the post and the blackmailers account to Twitter/X administrators is the only current recourse available.
In summary, while platforms like Instagram, Facebook Messenger, and TikTok have measures to prevent the dissemination of explicit content, others such as WhatsApp and Discord face challenges due to encryption and decentralized moderation. Consequently, the effectiveness of these platforms preventing sextortionists from following through with threats is less than desirable.
What Can You Do If Threatened with Sextortion?
If you or someone you know is a victim of sextortion, there are important steps you can take to decrease the likelihood of the sextortionist following through with their threats. You are not powerless and there are actions you can take instead of giving into their demands.
Step 1: Stop Communication and Do Not Give into Demands
Many victims of blackmail hope that ignoring their blackmailer will protect them from the danger of exposure. While this is not an effective way to ensure your blackmailer will stop, you should cease communication with the blackmailer to the best of your ability. In addition, do not pay a blackmailer threatening you with sextortion. While the messaging your blackmailer may use promises they will delete the content if you pay them, that is a ploy to ensure they receive the first payment. Once the payment is received, most blackmailers will begin to send messages more frequently increasing their threats and demands.
Step 2: Report Your Blackmailer
When reporting a blackmailer, it is important to inform the proper authorities and services that can help you not only report your blackmailer’s crimes but also increase your chances of stopping them from releasing the content.
File A Report With Local Authorities.
Filing a report with local law enforcement is a good first step in dealing with digital blackmail. Not only will you be able to file a report, but local law enforcement may provide guidance on whether you should file further reports with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)
Report Your Blackmailer on the Application:
If your blackmailer used any social applications to conduct their scam, it is important that you report them on these sites. Getting their account suspended/removed can decrease their ability to release the explicit content to your personal network. Below is a list of helpful resources with instructions on how to report sextortion on major dating and social media applications.
- Instructions for reporting blackmail and sextortion on different social media applications are available below:
When filing any of these reports, it is important that you know you will not be asked by any legitimate organization or law enforcement officer to showcase any of the intimate content being used to blackmail you. You will only be asked to submit screenshots or other evidence showing the threat and the account the messages originated from.
Step 3: Contact Digital Forensics Corp.
At Digital Forensics Corp, we employ digital forensics, social engineering, and legal experts that work tirelessly to fight back against cyber criminals like online blackmailers and sextortionists. Our mission is to end digital blackmail and restore our clients’ peace of mind by working on their behalf to:
- Locate your blackmailer and remove their anonymity.
- Identify key info on the tools and channels they have used to blackmail you.
- Leverage this information to ensure your blackmailer deletes the content they have gathered on you.
As an added measure to protect our clients’ reputation, we deploy different strategies to reduce potential exposure removing the threat of blackmail and restoring peace of mind.
If you or someone you love is facing sextortion, please contact our Sextortion Helpline for immediate assistance 24/7. Our experts can provide a complimentary review of your current situation and equip you with the information you need to move forward.
Sources:
- *Digital Forensics Corp.–The information presented in this article is based on sources that are not readily available to the public and may be subject to restrictions or confidentiality. It is intended for informational purposes only.
- Federal Bureau of Investigations Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) — https://www.ic3.gov/
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.
