Report Snapchat Blackmail and Regain Control with Expert Assistance

Snapchat blackmail involves a bad actor extracting personal information from their target that they can use as leverage. The platform’s focus on image sharing and perceived temporary nature allows these criminals to inconspicuously coax this content from their targets.

Scammers utilize a number of methods to manufacture trust on Snapchat. They often pose as a romantic interest or alluring individual. Since Snapchats are time-sensitive, blackmailers are often able to coerce their victims into sending content they’d be less inclined to share on more permanent platforms.

The best defense against Snapchat blackmail is to prevent it before it starts. The following practices can help you do just that:

• Utilize Privacy Settings: Limit who can connect with you on Snapchat by adjusting your “Who Can…” settings. This allows you to determine who can Snap you, view your stories, or access your location on Snap Map.
• Avoid Oversharing: There is some information that just doesn’t need to be shared — whether it’s on public stories or private chats. Avoid giving out personal information like your location, place of employment, financial data, and anything else that can potentially be used against you.
• Vet Your Connections: Snapchat, like any online platform, requires users to take a zero-trust approach. You should be overly cautious with any unfamiliar interaction. Analyze their profile, reverse-image search the photos they send you, and ask questions that would be difficult to fake answers to.
• Trust Your Gut: If that small voice in the back of your head is telling you that something feels off, listen. Scammers are crafty and often plan their attacks down to the minutiae. If you notice even the smallest red flag, it’s best to be safe and end the conversation.

If your situation has progressed past the point of prevention, all hope is not lost. Consider the following suggestions when taking your initial steps to combat Snapchat blackmail:

• Don’t Indulge the Scammer: You should never pay a cybercriminal or entertain their demands. End the conversation but avoid blocking the blackmailer. This can result in the permanent deletion of evidence and drive the perpetrator to carry out their threats.
• Collect Evidence of the Crime: Take screenshots of profiles, messages, and any other relevant information that can be used to create a timeline of the incident. You will need this evidence to support future legal action.
• Inform the Appropriate Authorities: You should begin by filing a report with your local police. Next, inform the FBI by filing a report through the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). Additionally, report the user to Snapchat to have their account removed and protect yourself and others from future abuse.

Snapchat has reporting options available within the app to allow users to flag accounts that are conducting behavior that goes against community guidelines. To report a Snapchat account:

1. Open the chat with the account and press and hold their username
2. Select the “Manage Friendship” option
3. Select the “Report” option

You should also inform law enforcement. With the evidence you’ve collected, file a police report by either going into your local station or contacting them online or over the phone. Furthermore, notify the FBI by filing a report at your local field house or online through the IC3.

Unfortunately, it is possible. Cybercriminals are unpredictable and often act irrationally when they feel confronted. Your response to the threat, as well as your identity, can influence the chances of a blackmailer carrying out their threats.

Factors That May Lead a Blackmailer to Follow Through:

• High-profile targets, such as celebrities, public figures, and those with a large net worth and considerable public influence.
• Targets who respond to threats with either a willingness to comply or, inversely, extreme confrontation.

Factors That May Deter a Blackmailer from Following Through:

• Risk of losing leverage over the situation by releasing the content they are leveraging in their scheme.
• Fear of getting caught, whether it’s due to committing additional criminal action or your collaboration with law enforcement and cybersecurity experts.

Our experts know how to identify the blackmailer, remove their leverage, and prevent the spread of your private data. The entire investigation is documented to preserve the chain of custody and ensure your report is admissible as evidence for legal proceedings. Furthermore, we can help connect you with law enforcement around the world to find an agency with the jurisdiction to pursue your blackmailer.