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.

Facebook scammers can be extremely stealthy in their approach, but there are often red flags that sneak through the cracks. The following are some of the common warning signs you can look out for.

• Unnatural Profiles. Does the profile look too perfect? Or maybe it’s so bare-bones that it doesn’t seem like a real person. Are their posting habits unusual? These are all signs of fake accounts that are often the culprits of Facebook scams or sextortion attempts.
• Unreal Offers. An account may have messaged you with an opportunity to double your money while doing absolutely no work. Or maybe there’s a listing on the marketplace that seems too good to be true. If this is the case, it’s likely just that — untrue.
• Urgent Deadlines. Scammers often pose their “opportunities” as limited time deals to drive their targets into hasty decisions. If you are presented with an opportunity with an impending deadline, it’s likely a blackmail attempt.

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. Regardless of whether a cybercriminal accessed your account, it’s best to make sure your settings are 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 often exploit the publicly available information on your profile to create spear-phishing scams to trick you and 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.

Past the platform and the law, there are additional resources that can help victims navigate reporting a scammer on Facebook. These services can help the victim deal with the emotional fallout, gather evidence, and provide guidance on the reporting process. Consider the benefits of working with the following organizations when you report a scammer on Facebook.

• Cyber Civil Rights Initiative. CCRI is the nation’s leading nonprofit organization at the forefront of innovation to fight online abuse. The group works with legislators to advise on reform regarding cybersecurity. They also provide educational guides for victims of cybercrime.
• Cybercrime Support Network. This nonprofit works to help individuals and small businesses affected by cybercrime. They collect resources from around the internet and compile them in one location, including unification and peer support programs.
• National Elder Fraud Hotline. The elderly are disproportionately targeted online. This hotline is run by the DOJ for victims of fraud who are 60 or older. They offer personalized, judgment-free service to help victims report and recover from these scams, blackmail, or sextortion.
• Cybercrime Investigators. These professionals have the tools and technical know-how to uncover evidence you wouldn’t have access to alone. By investigating the digital footprint, they can unmask the perpetrator and help you bring them to justice. They can also help guide you through the necessary steps to report the scam.