Someone is Trying to Extort Me Online, What Should i do? This is a common question from those who faced with online extortion. The following article will give helpful advice on how to handle the situation.
Online extortion, can refer to any threats or coercion made through a social media platform, where someone threatens to reveal intimate photos or videos online or where someone demands money in exchange for not releasing damaging information. While online blackmail can be extremely frightening, there are steps you can take to protect yourself.
Someone is Trying to Extort Online – Take Initial Steps Now, and End the Extortion
Everyone has the right to live their life free from the threat of violence or harassment. Unfortunately, far too many people find themselves being extorted – forced to hand over money or possessions in order to avoid being hurt. If you are currently being extorted, it is important to take action:
- Report Online Extortion to professionals;
- Don’t give in to demands and payment; Learn how to deal with blackmail
- Don’t confront the person responsible. This could escalate the situation and put you in further danger;
- To keep your accounts safe, you can use filters to block unwanted senders;
- Change the privacy settings so that they are only visible to friends;
- If you think that your account has been hacked, change all of the passwords with strong and unique alphanumeric codes;
- start new accounts and let contacts know about the old ones. They should not open any messages from them anyway;
- Make sure you protect all of the devices in your life with strong passwords;
- You can also prevent hackers from accessing your webcam by covering it with a sticker;
- Keep a lookout for anything new that involves your name. Search online or set up alerts to notify you immediately if something shows up;
It can be tempting to simply pay the scammer off and hope that they will go away. However, this is often not the best course of action. For one thing, there is no guarantee that the scammer will actually delete the information they claim to have once they receive payment. Additionally, paying the ransom only encourages the scammer and may make you more likely to be targeted in the future.
What Are Some Red Flag Behaviors?
There are many red flag behaviors that can indicate someone is trying to extort you online. For example, if someone is constantly asking for personal information or financial assistance, this is a major red flag. Additionally, if someone is threatening to expose your personal information or pictures unless you comply with their demands, this is also a warning sign that they may be attempting to extort you. If you are ever in doubt, it is always best to err on the side of caution and contact trusted assistance.
If something doesn’t feel right, trust yourself and don’t share any personal information with that person until you have all of the facts.
Remember, you should never give in to demands from an online extortionist, as this will only encourage them to continue their attempts.
We hope these tips help you stay safe from online extortion. If there’s anything else we could do, please let us know!
Blackmail is lurking on every corner so please be aware of who you are speaking to online. If You want to report Facebook sextortion or Blackmail Instagram give us a call or reach out to us online, so we can do our best in alleviating this burden.
