{"id":2441,"date":"2024-04-19T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-04-19T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/digitalinvestigation.com\/blog\/?p=2441"},"modified":"2025-04-10T20:20:43","modified_gmt":"2025-04-10T20:20:43","slug":"south-carolina-sextortion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/digitalinvestigation.com\/blog\/sextortion\/south-carolina-sextortion\/","title":{"rendered":"South Carolina Sextortion: Is it a Crime?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sextortion is turning into a state-wide emergency and South Carolina<\/a> is not immune to its harm. This form of digital blackmail consists of vulnerable people of all ages being coerced into sending their private images and blackmailed into sending thousands of dollars to prevent exposure. If you want to learn more about South Carolina sextortion and how you can protect yourself, keep reading.<\/p>\n

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<\/span>Is Sextortion a Crime In South Carolina?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Yes, sextortion is a crime in South Carolina. Although it does not have its specific law, the crime of sextortion falls under blackmail and extortion laws in South Carolina. Under SC Code \u00a7 16-17-640 (2012)<\/a> Any person who verbally or by printing or writing or by electronic communications:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Accuses another of a crime or offense.<\/li>\n
  2. Exposes or publishes any of another’s personal or business acts, infirmities, or failings.<\/li>\n
  3. Compels any person to do any act, or to refrain from doing any lawful act, against his will.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    With intent to extort money or any other thing of value from any person, or attempts or threatens to do any of such acts, with the intent to extort money or any other thing of value, shall be guilty of blackmail and, upon conviction, shall be fined not more than five thousand dollars or imprisoned for not more than ten years, or both, in the discretion of the court.<\/p>\n

    Private Digital Investigations Charleston SC<\/a><\/p>\n

    Private Digital Investigations Columbia SC<\/a><\/p>\n

    \"Is<\/a><\/p>\n

    <\/span>South Carolina Sextortion Laws & Punishment<\/span><\/h2>\n

    On top of extortion and blackmail laws such as SC Code \u00a7 16-17-640 (2012)<\/a>, sextortion also falls under cybercrime laws under the 16-16-20 Computer Crime Act.<\/a><\/p>\n

    It is unlawful for a person to willfully, knowingly, maliciously, and without authorization or for an unauthorized purpose to:<\/p>\n

    (A) directly or indirectly access or cause to be accessed a computer, computer system, or computer network for:<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Devising or executing a scheme or artifice to defraud.<\/li>\n
    2. Obtaining money, property, or services using false or fraudulent pretenses, representations promises.<\/li>\n
    3. Committing any other crime.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      (B) alter, damage, destroy, or modify a computer, computer system, computer network, computer software, computer program, or data contained in that computer, computer system, computer program, or computer network or introduce a computer contaminant into that computer, computer system, computer program, or computer network.<\/p>\n

      <\/span>Punishment for Computer Crimes in Different Degrees<\/span><\/h3>\n

      The punishment for committing these crimes is as follows:<\/p>\n