Last Updated on July 7, 2023
It’s no surprise that sextortion has been rising so much as it has due to the popularity and anonymity of social media. Facebook is one of the most affected platforms by sextortion, to the point that the platform has dedicated a resource page in their Safety Center for sextortion victims. If you want to learn how to stop sextortion on Facebook and what steps to take if you become a victim, keep reading.
What to Do If Someone Sextorts You on Facebook?
Sextortion is a crime that leaves victims feeling isolated, fearful, traumatized, and ashamed. Taking all that into account, it is not surprising that most victims do not report the abuse to anyone. Not their family, friends, or even the authorities. This results in victims being trapped in a vicious and abusive cycle.
It’s common for victims to not know what to do in such a scary situation. Do you give in to the demands of your blackmailer? Do you ignore them? Here are some steps we recommend to our clients.
Do not pay. Giving in to the demands of your blackmailer will only make things worse. These criminals will harass and threaten you until you give them money, and if you do, that will only encourage them to continue.
Secure your Facebook. Make sure to make your Facebook account as well as your other socials as private as possible. These criminals like to take a deep dive into their victims’ profiles to find any information they can use against them.
Confide in someone. Sextortionists excel when their victims do not reach out for help. They use fear tactics to keep their victims isolated so that they coerce them into doing what they want. Don’t let them win! Victims must tell someone and reach out for help to stop the abuse from continuing.
Take screenshots. It will be extremely beneficial for victims to take as many screenshots of any telling information such as names, numbers, texts, threats, etc. This will help authorities with their investigations.
Report. Report the sextortionists Facebook account to the platform. Facebook knows about the growing sextortion issue happening on their platform, so it will be helpful to report the abuse to get the sextortionists account removed or even banned.
Do Facebook Sextortionists Follow Through?
It is hard to say whether or not sextortionists follow through with their threats because it all depends on the type of criminal you are dealing with. Some are far more vicious than others and will not hesitate to expose victims’ content if their demands are not met. Others will try to “play nice” and give you a few days to come up with the money. However, that does not mean they will not follow through with their demands. They will continue to harass you every day, all day until you pay up. Bottom line is that you can never trust whether or not these criminals will expose your content. They will do everything they can to get what they want, and if that means ruining people’s lives and reputations, so be it.
How Can I Get Out of Sextortion?
The most effective way to get out of online sextortion is to contact the authorities and make a report. Sextortion should not be handled by victims alone. This type of crime needs to be handled with a specific set of strategies that victims aren’t aware of. We know this is a very difficult situation to be in and how vulnerable you may feel. However, it will not end if you keep silent! Speak out today and get help. On top of reporting the crime to authorities, you can also reach out to Cyber Investigation for assistance.
Summary
It is important to take the issue of sextortion seriously and not ignore it or brush it off. Can be scary, but arming yourself with the tips and tools discussed in this blog post will help make you more aware of what’s happening on your social media platforms. It can also teach you how to stop sextortion on Facebook . f it happens to you. Remember, if a sextortion scam happens to you, keep calm, lock down your social media accounts, tell someone immediately, report the crime to authorities, and cyber investigation for help. We are here for you! Contact us today. Our Sextortion Helpline is available 24/7
