FACEBOOK BLACKMAIL – REPORT IT AND GET HELP NOW

Online blackmail is a form of extortion in which someone threatens to expose your private information, images, or videos unless you meet their demands. On Facebook, this often occurs when a hacker gains access to your account or device. They may also use fake online profiles to trick you into sending compromising information.

Stopping Facebook blackmail requires several steps that are focused on your protection and safety. Here is a guide to help you respond effectively if you’re being blackmailed on Facebook.

1. Do not engage or give in. Communicating with the blackmailer further often leads to escalation. Compliance is also not recommended, as it can encourage them to intensify their threats against you.
2. Save the evidence. Law enforcement and cybercrime experts need evidence of the blackmail to take action. Make sure to save threatening messages and any other evidence that can be proof of the crime.
3. Report the blackmail to Facebook. The platform allows users to report messages or profiles for online blackmail and often removes the offender’s account after review.
4. Contact law enforcement. Report the crime to the local authorities and to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). Both agencies can document the crime officially and may launch an investigation to bring the perpetrator to justice.
5. Protect your account. Whether or not a cybercriminal accessed your account, it’s best to make sure your account is secure to prevent future cyberattacks. Features like two-factor authentication (2FA) can protect your online accounts even if your password gets exposed. Review your Facebook settings to update your recovery methods, enable 2FA, and change your password to be safe.

To report a Facebook profile:

• Go to the profile.
• Click the three dots.
• Select “Report.”
• Choose “Something about this profile.”
• Select “Bullying, harassment or abuse.”
• Choose the option that best fits your circumstance.

To report a Facebook interaction:

• Go to the messages.
• Click the three dots.
• Select “Report.”
• Choose “Sharing inappropriate things” or “Harassment”.
• Choose the option that best fits your circumstance.

While it may feel like a safe option, blocking the perpetrator can often backfire. Cybercriminals can discover that you blocked them and may retaliate by following through with their threats. You also run the risk of deleting crucial evidence.

Blackmailers exploit the publicly available information on your profile to create spear phishing scams to trick you and can look at your friends list to make targeted threats against your personal life. Facebook privacy settings allow users to set their profile to private and choose what bio details you want to be visible to the public. The fewer details that bad actors are able to see, the lower the risk of being targeted by a scammer.

Our cybersecurity specialists are trained to manage sensitive information with the utmost discretion. We strictly follow legal and ethical standards to ensure the safety and confidentiality of everyone involved. Cyber Investigation Inc. only provides assistance to minors with the written consent and direct supervision of a legal parent or guardian.

Victims of Facebook blackmail should always report the crime to local law enforcement. They can help you file a report, officially documenting the crime to support any potential legal action. In many cases, the police may also involve their Cyber Crime Unit to investigate the crime further, using advanced tools to uncover the blackmailer’s IP address, geolocation, and potentially their identity.  However, if the perpetrator is located in another state or country, the local police will not have the authority to take action against them.

The FBI, on the other hand, runs the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) and is not limited by local jurisdiction. The IC3 is the national reporting center for cybercrimes and is used by the FBI to track national trends. The FBI also uses these reports to launch investigations into certain cybercrimes, working with international law enforcement in other countries to bring these criminals to justice.