Dealing with sextortion can be incredibly challenging and can affect victims emotionally, psychologically, and financially. It inflicts significant damage to both your personal and professional life. So, how can you combat this crime? Look no further. This blog post provides valuable advice on tackling sextortion, helping you break free from the harmful cycle of abuse.
Table of Contents:
Should I ignore sextortion?
Many people believe that ignoring the threats and demands of a blackmailer will cause them to give up and move on. However, this is not usually the case. For starters, your sexual content remains in their possession, and they may continue to harass and manipulate you for an unknown amount of time.
Sextortionists can be relentless and will often bombard their victims with worse-case scenarios, causing significant emotional distress. That means ignoring the situation doesn’t do anything to help but keep it going and agitate your aggressor even more which can result in exposure and further harassment.
Often if a victim doesn’t respond within the timeframe their blackmailer has given them, they will not hesitate to show proof that they mean business and either form group chats that include a good chunk of their family and friends and threaten to expose your content to the group. If that isn’t enough to get their victim to cooperate, they will not hesitate to post a victim’s content and will not stop exposing them until they get a response.
These criminals can be vicious because they believe they have nothing to lose and their identity is well hidden behind a burner account. Using fake social media accounts, names, numbers, etc., does make it difficult to uncover who is behind the crime; however, it’s not impossible. That is why we urge victims to come forward and report cyber crime as soon as they start to receive threats.
How do you escape sextortion?
It’s important to note that there is a way out of sextortion, even if it feels like there’s not and your world is ending. You need to confide in a support system to get out of this emotional and financial abuse cycle. Reach out to a family member or friend and explain what’s happening. We understand it can be scary or even embarrassing to share, but it’s critical to have someone in your corner supporting and reminding you that you are not alone in this and that this is not your fault.
Once you have support from loved ones, it’s best to gather evidence of the sextortion and immediately report the crime to the authorities. The act of sending or threatening to send sexually explicit content of another individual without their consent is illegal, as well as coercing someone to send financial funds to avoid having their private information released to the public.
These are cases of blackmail and extortion and are deemed serious crimes that are punishable by law. That said, you shouldn’t be afraid to get the justice that you deserve. Seeking help from the police and cybercrime experts will only ensure that this crime is put to bed and you can regain peace. They are equipped with strategies that combat sextortion, unlike victims who have no clue how to handle such a sensitive and traumatic situation.
Conclusion
Sextortion can happen to almost anyone who has an online account. This is why learning what to do about sextortion once you become a victim is necessary for keeping yourself safe. Remember to avoid ignoring threats, report them immediately to authorities, and confide in your family. Sextortion helplines are also available to the public and can help victims navigate their way through this tough time. Don’t suffer in silence; report sextortion today!