Is Sextortion Illegal in Ohio? Sextortion is an ever-growing menace for all Ohioans. This type of crime involves scammers masking their identities and extorting people to hand over intimate photos or videos before demanding a hefty sum in exchange for keeping them secret. Don’t let sextortionists get away with this! Protect yourself from them by learning about the laws that protect you from sextortion in Ohio.
Is Sextortion Illegal in Ohio?
Yes, sextortion is illegal in Ohio and is considered a form of extortion. In Ohio, extortion can occur when a person tries to gain something of value or tries to induce another to perform an unlawful act. Ohio’s extortion laws include a statute prohibiting coercion, which is a lesser crime than extortion. Violation of Ohio’s extortion laws can occur whether the threat is direct or implied.
What are the Ohio Sextortion Laws?
Despite lacking specific legislation addressing sextortion, Ohio’s laws still provide protection. Sextortion is categorized as blackmail, extortion, or coercion – all punishable under state statutes.
Extortion: with the purpose to obtain something valuable or to persuade another to perform an unlawful act, do any of the following:
- Threaten to commit a felony or any offense of violence;
- Violate sections 2903.21 or 2903.22;
- Slander/threaten to slander someone; or
- Expose/threaten to expose something likely to subject any individual to hatred or ridicule, damage anyone’s business or personal reputation, or impair any person’s credit.
Coercion: with the purpose to force someone to act or not act in a certain way, do any of the following:
- Threaten to commit an offense;
- Slander/threaten to slander someone;
- Expose/threaten to expose something likely to subject any individual to hatred or ridicule, damage anyone’s business or personal reputation, or impair any person’s credit;
- Institute or threaten criminal proceedings against anyone; or
- Take or withhold/threaten to take or withhold official action.
If convicted of extortion in Ohio, a person will face a felony charge of the third degree punishable by up to 9-36 months in prison and fines not exceeding $10,000.
If convicted of a misdemeanor, a person will face a misdemeanor of the second degree punishable by exceeding 90 days in jail and fines not exceeding $750.
How to Protect Yourself from Sextortion in Ohio?
Sextortion is on the rise, and criminals are increasingly using social media networks to target victims. To protect yourself from this traumatic crime, consider following these safety tips for protecting your online presence:
Be Aware of Online Scams
The best way to protect yourself is to be aware of potential scams. Common sextortion schemes typically involve the perpetrator promising to remove incriminating photos or videos if you pay them a certain amount of money.
The scammer may also threaten to expose your “secrets” if you don’t comply with their demands. The best way to avoid falling victim to these types of scams is by remaining vigilant and staying informed about the latest online threats.
Secure Your Online Accounts
Another way to protect yourself from sextortion in Ohio is by securing your online accounts. Make sure that all of your accounts have strong passwords that are unique for each account. You should also enable two-factor authentication for any accounts that offer it, as this will provide an extra layer of security and make it much harder for scammers to access your information.
Additionally, be sure not to share any personal information over email or social media platforms—scammers can use even seemingly innocuous details (like your birthday) against you if they gain access to them.
Know Who You’re Talking To
Finally, one important thing you can do is be careful who you communicate with online—especially when it comes to sending intimate photos or videos. If someone asks you for these types of materials, take some time to research who they are before agreeing—are they who they say they are? Do other people know them? It’s always better safe than sorry when sharing any kind of sensitive information on the internet!
Conclusions
Sextortion in Ohio is only going to become more common and people must know what to look out for when being online if they want to avoid falling victim to this type of crime. Protecting yourself from online sextortion in Ohio starts with being aware of potential scams and securing your online accounts with strong passwords and two-factor authentication enabled whenever possible.
Additionally, make sure that you know who you’re communicating with before agreeing to share any sensitive material with them—and never give out personal information over email or social media platforms! By following these tips, you can help keep yourself safe while browsing the internet!
