How To Report Blackmail To Facebook Administrators

Online Blackmail or Facebook scams are concerning issues, and reports indicate they are becoming more frequent.

In 2023, the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center received more than 880,000 complaints, a 10% increase over 2022.

If you’ve ever been the victim of a Facebook blackmail or sextortion scam, you’re not alone.

Fortunately, there’s help. The first step to protect yourself is to report Facebook blackmail or sextortion scams. But you need to act fast. The sooner you take action, the more likely you can resolve the issue and protect your reputation. You can even prevent the release of sensitive material.

What is Online Blackmail or Sextortion on Facebook?

Facebook blackmail is a form of extortion when someone threatens to release or share sensitive content, images, or video unless you comply with their demands. While a blackmailer may demand different forms of compensation for their silence, most scammers demand money.

Facebook sextortion happens when the content contains sexually sensitive or private material.

Cybercriminals can be very convincing when getting victims to share private content. They’ll be highly manipulative in their threats, making repeated attempts to contact you either on Facebook or other messaging platforms.

But, don’t panic. It’s not your fault. Help is available.

Will the Scammer Know I Reported Them?

The good news is all reports of user misconduct to Facebook and their parent company Meta are confidential. Your scammer will not know you reported them for blackmail on the Facebook platform.

Once the blackmailer’s account is reported, Meta will launch an investigation of what has occurred using all of the evidence you submit to determine whether or not to remove the account in question from Facebook.

While this investigation is going on, we suggest that you do not block the account. We understand that the messages and threats can feel overwhelming, but you do not want to alert the scammer. In cases of Facebook blackmail or sextortion, the scammer normally connects with your other connections prior to sending threats, and if they discover you have blocked them, they could release the content they have in retaliation. If there account is removed by Meta administrators, your chances of exposure drop exponentially.

How to Report Online Blackmail on Facebook

If you’ve been targeted by a cybercriminal in a sextortion scam or other form of cyber extortion on Facebook, acting fast is critical. Report the blackmail scam to Facebook and other authorities. They can flag the scammer’s account and will likely take steps to suspend it.

Meta outlines five steps to report instances of blackmail or sextortion scams on Facebook:

Go to the profile of the scammer.
Click on the three dots in the upper right-hand corner of their profile.
Click “Report” from the dropdown menu to report the Facebook blackmail scam.
Follow the prompts and answer Facebook’s questions in as much detail as possible.
Finally, submit your report to Facebook and wait for Facebook mediators to respond.

Keep in mind the process will take time. You’ll need to be patient. In the meantime, there are steps you can take to protect yourself and your reputation.

What to Do Next

Report the Facebook blackmail or sextortion scam to law enforcement. It’s important to file a report with local police and the FBI. You’ll need to start a legal paper trail to seek justice and end the threats permanently.

For citizens of the United States who have been targeted by a scammer in a Facebook blackmail or Facebook sextortion scam, the next report you should file is with the Federal Bureau of Investigations Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3.

In cases where the victim is a minor, the first option is to report the crime to the National Center For Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC)

Regardless of which law enforcement agency you report the scammer to, don’t pay the scammer. They will only escalate their demands, making the problem much worse.

Do keep lines of communication open. This may seem contradictory, but it can often help prevent the scammer from releasing sensitive material. Tell them you need time to get the money. This buys you time to protect your account, work with law enforcement, and get the help of a trained professional like Digital Investigation Inc.

What are the Most Common Reported Blackmail Scams on Facebook?

Blackmail and sextortion can take many forms. Most blackmail is financial with the scammer demanding payment through PayPal, Gift Card, Venmo, or Cash App.

Facebook sextortion involves sexually sensitive content such as photos, videos, or messages. The blackmailer threatens to release the content unless you pay or meet other demands.

Catfishing is another commonly reported Facebook scam that often leads to sextortion. It’s when someone disguises themselves as someone else, usually someone very attractive. They pretend to date you to get sexually explicit material, money, or other favors.

How to Prevent Future Blackmail on Facebook

To prevent blackmail on Facebook in the future, improve your online security measures. Be cautious about sharing personal information. Understand how best to respond to a potential threat.

Review your Facebook privacy settings. Make sure your profile is set to private so only friends and people you trust can view it. You can adjust who sees your posts and who can send you friend requests.

Never share sensitive information like your phone number, address, or financial info on your profile. Periodically review your friends list and remove anyone you don’t personally know. Always be cautious with direct messages, especially anyone who messages you unsolicited. Never share explicit content on Facebook or any other social app.

Get Help for a Facebook Blackmail Scam Now

Reporting blackmail or sextortion scams to police and the FBI is important, but it takes time. In the meantime, remember you are not alone.

Digital Investigation Inc. is ready to help. We can protect you online and even prevent the release of sensitive information after you’ve been blackmailed on Facebook.

We’ll fight to protect you and stop the blackmailers. Our experienced cybersecurity professionals will use proven methods to locate the IP address, location, and identity of your attacker. We can then use this information to help stop the scam. We’ll take steps to protect your online reputation and prevent something like this from ever happening again.

Be safe and get back at your attackers. Gain peace of mind and get justice. Contact us today to put this mess behind you.

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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 INVESTIGATION INC. 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.