Are you a victim of sextortion? If so, you’re not alone. Unfortunately, this type of online blackmail is becoming increasingly common, especially among young people. Sextortion occurs when someone uses intimate or sexual images or videos to blackmail or harass the person depicted in them. In most cases, the perpetrator threatened to share the images or videos with the victim’s family, friends, or the wider public unless the victim complied with their demands, which usually involve sending more explicit material or paying a ransom. Keep reading for tips on how to deal with sextortion.
How to Deal with Sextortion in the United States?
The best way to fight back is to be cognizant of sextortion. The definition of cognizant is knowing or being aware. So, what is the United States doing to help raise awareness of sextortion? Currently, the FBI has started a Stop Sextortion campaign which seeks to inform kids and caregivers about the growing crime of sextortion. Below listed are the steps to deal with or fight back against sextortion crimes.
5 Steps:
- Do not pay your blackmailer. This will escalate your circumstance right away. Do your best to stall your sextortionist until help arrives.
- Tell someone close to you, that 1 in 3 victims are staying quiet.
- Document everything, I know you may be tempted to delete everything but it’s important you keep all evidence of the crime.
- Report the crime to local law enforcement. Also, report the crime online to the FBI’s Crime Complaint center.
- Reach out to a third-party company for help. There are a lot of companies that are trained to deal with this kind of cyberbullying. You do not have to do this alone.
What Can the Police do about Sextortion?
Although sextortion is a relatively new phenomenon, the police are taking crime very seriously. In recent years, there have been several high-profile cases in which young people have been coerced into sending intimate images or videos to someone who then uses those images or videos to blackmail the victim. There is a likelihood that you won’t get answers right away after everything has been documented since many of these sextortionists are located elsewhere, like the Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Morocco, and the Philippines. A lot of these times the perpetrators are doing it on such a large scale but because so many victims stay silent, they can go years without being caught. If you or someone you know is a victim, report it to the police immediately.
How Digital Investigation Can Help you with Sextortion
If you need help now, Digital Investigation is one of the leading companies that deal with these Cyberbullies. With locations across the United States, our digital forensics experts are near and ready to help. We can work on your case remotely, in-lab and onsite. Contact us or submit a case today to learn more about how we can help you to stop being the Victim of sextortion.
In conclusion, Sextortion is a serious crime that can have a lasting impact on its victims. If you’ve been a victim of sextortion, know that you’re not alone. Stay strong and take action against your attacker by following the steps outlined in this blog post. You deserve to live a life free of fear and harassment.
