Last Updated on July 7, 2023

   Are you concerned that someone may be blackmailing you with intimate photos or videos they have of you? If so, you’re not alone. In this article we’ll tell you how to overcome blackmail.

Sextortion is a rapidly growing problem, and one that can be difficult to overcome. In this blog post, we’ll discuss what sextortion is and what steps you can take to recover. Keep reading to learn more!

What is Sextortion?

Sextortion is when someone threatens to distribute your private and sensitive material if you don’t provide them with goods: more explicit content, important information, or money. This type of cyber-crime has been prevalent across the whole web, on social media platforms that you would least expect. Innocent people are falling victim to it every day by believing they have made a connection with someone online.

Who Are These Criminals Targeting?

            When it comes to sextortion, anyone can become a target. These criminals have coordinated a game plan that consists of creating hundreds of different social media profiles on numerous platforms, and adding anyone they come across.

The main objective is to spark up a conversation with someone and try to manipulate them into believing that they have someone who is interested in them whether that be emotionally or just physically.

Once a connection is formed these criminals will influence their victim to send explicit content, to then threaten them with exposure if they don’t comply with demands. This cyber-crime can happen to just about anyone. These criminals view people as ATMs and nothing more, it doesn’t matter if you’re old, young, rich or poor, anyone is fair game in their eyes.

Here are some red flags of a potential sextortion:

• Poor quality photos
• Eagerness in exchanging content
• Doesn’t want to speak on the phone or video chat
• Doesn’t want to share private information about themselves, but continues to ask you detailed questions

How Can You Recover from Blackmail?

Dealing with sextortion can leave a person feeling isolated, violated, and hopeless, but that doesn’t have to be the case. If you’re currently going through this situation, it’s important to know that your life and reputation doesn’t end here. There are ways that you can keep yourself safer from exposure and potentially putting this to rest.

How to Overcome Blackmail – advices

• Strong Privacy Settings.

Keeping strong privacy settings across all of your social media platforms, disables your blackmailer or any potential blackmailer to access your information, including your family and friends.

• Documentation.

Documenting your blackmailers’ threats and harassment can be extremely helpful. There are many cases where a perpetrator will try to pin a false and damaging narrative against you that can potentially ruin your reputation and life.

• Report.

Gathering all of your evidence and bringing it to your local authorities and online blackmail specialists is not only vital but it can also help put an end to this nightmare. Sextortion is a cyber-crime that needs to be handled in a particular manner and you should always seek out help as soon as you can.

• Support.

Admitting to sextortion could be embarrassing for some, but having a group of people you can go to, to vent and share your feelings will leave you more at ease then you would expect. Sextortionists try to force their victim into believing they are alone and have no way out, which is far from the truth. Your family and friends are there to help you and support you anyway they can, especially through rough times.

• Do Not Share Explicit Content.

Lastly, and most importantly, never share explicit content with anyone online, especially a complete stranger! The internet is filled with cyber-criminals in every corner.

How to report sextortion or blackmail?

You Should Never handle Sextortion by yourself . There are many blackmail specialists online that are more than willing to help put a stop to this. Keeping yourself, and your information private online gives you a better chance of avoiding sextortion and other cyber-crimes. If you or someone you know is a victim of sextortion and needs help, give us a call or chat. Contact our  sextortion helpline  with us online so we can help support you and help put an end to this burden. After all, you know how to deal with blackmail. Its your turn to act.