Last Updated on November 14, 2023
As of 2022, Snapchat has 332 million daily active users worldwide making it a candy shop for blackmail. Sextortionists are utilizing the app to coerce victims into sending over explicit content by disguising themselves as someone who is romantically or sexually interested. If you have become a victim of blackmail on Snapchat and want to know What to do if Someone is Blackmailing You on Snapchat, keep reading.
Is it Illegal to Blackmail Someone with Pictures?
Yes, exposing someone’s explicit content online without consent is a crime. Internet Blackmail involves threats of violence or other harm to compel a person to do something. In this case, a blackmailer threatens to expose intimate photos online which can harm a person’s reputation and/or career and instills fear to get compensated.
Online Blackmail is highly illegal in most states and it is treated as a type of extortion or coercion. Blackmail is generally classified as a felony, which could result in multi-year sentences, probations, and large fines.
What if Someone Blackmails You on Snapchat
If someone is blackmailing you on Snapchat you need to immediately alert the platform and the police. The majority of victims are terrified and don’t know what steps to take next once they are faced with sextortion. Due to the embarrassment and fear of being exposed, they tend to play along with their blackmailers to keep the situation under wraps.
Here are some tips we here at Cyber Investigation give to our clients that have shown to be beneficial
· Think before you act. Try your best to not act on fear and make rash decisions.
· Make your account as private as possible, along with your other online accounts.
· Document the blackmail and as many details of the harasser as you can. This will help with investigations.
· Do not by any means comply with your blackmailer’s demands. Once they get what they want, they will come back asking for more and more.
· Confide in someone you trust like a family member or close friend. Online Sextortion can be very isolating and mentally straining. Get the support you need.
· Take all of your evidence and make reports to your local authority, the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, and blackmail experts.
How Can I Stop Sextortion?
What to do if Someone is Blackmailing You on Snapchat and how to stop online blackmail or sextortion?
The best way to stop sextortion is to involve the authorities and experts. Victims are not equipped to handle a serious crime like sextortion and are already fearful of their blackmailer which can lead them to comply with more of their demands. Law enforcement and blackmail experts have experience dealing with these types of cyber criminals and know how they work.
If you’re blackmailed on Snapchat, it’s important to remember that you are not alone and there are steps you can take to protect yourself. Do not give in to the demands, take screenshots of the blackmail, report any images that have been shared, and talk to someone who can help—whether that’s a friend, family member, therapist, or us at Cyber Investigation. Our sextortion helpline is available 24/7 to take on your case. Give us a call or chat with us online today!
