Many people think that the words extortion, blackmail, and coercion have the same meaning. In general conversation, these words are often used interchangeably to point towards pressure, threats, or manipulation. But in the eyes of the law, these terms are distinct and represent different types of crimes. Each term has its own intention, method, and consequences. It is important to understand the difference between these words, because in the digital world, these terms are being used repeatedly.
It is very useful for victims to differentiate between extortion vs blackmail vs coercion. By understanding the difference, victims can identify what is happening to them and how they need to protect themselves. Every day, we work with the victims of digital threats. We’ve seen first-hand that victims are often unaware of the differences between these terms. This confusion delays reporting and can increase the emotional distress of the victims. That’s why clear definitions are so necessary, so read on to learn more.
What Is Extortion?
Extortion is very common in the cybersphere. It’s a criminal act where someone obtains money, services, property, or something of value by threatening, forcing, or intimidating victims. The criminals deliberately put pressure on victims to give up something they would never get willingly. Extortionists specifically target the victims for a tangible gain.
An extortion message may look like the following:
- “Pay me in crypto currency, otherwise I will leak internal secure files of your company.”
- “Provide me with free services, otherwise I will publish fake bad reviews about your business.”
Extortion can happen offline as well, but online extortion is very common due to the ease of reaching targets. Cyber criminals can exploit the security of cryptocurrency wallets, financial accounts, email services, social media accounts, and messaging apps. The following methods are often used for extortion.
- Online extortion. Threats sent to victims through email, social media, hacked accounts, and anonymous messaging apps.
- Business or corporate extortion. Attackers target executives, management, and company employees to get financial benefits or to get services.
- Crypto-based extortion. Extortionists ask for Bitcoin or demand payment in the form of other cryptocurrencies.
- Data extortion. They threaten to publish, delete, or alter critical and private data of the company or individual.
- Reputation extortion. Cybercriminals pressure individuals by threatening to harm their online reputation on social media platforms.
- Ransomware extortion. This threat is commonly issued in attacks targeting businesses. They lock systems or files and ask for payment to resume access.
Victims can contact Cyber Investigation for identification of an attack, preservation of evidence, and construction of a timeline for legal proceedings.
What Is Extortion Under Law?
In legal terms, extortion involves obtaining money, property, or services unwillingly. This is done by using force, threats, fear, or any wrongdoing to get benefits. Financial loss, reputational damage, or physical harm are common types of threats. The intent and pressure placed on the victims is a crime, regardless of whether they comply or not. When a victim is being threatened to provide tangible things or services unwillingly, then this is considered extortion under the law — and it is a crime.
What Is Blackmail?
Blackmail is a subcategory of extortion that occurs when someone threatens to reveal the victim’s personal information. This type of threat typically leverages embarrassing or compromising data and involves financial demands and emotional pressure on victims.
Common examples of blackmail messages include:
- “Just send me $1,000, otherwise I will post your private messages.”
- “Pay me $2,000 or I am going to inform your employer about your personal life.”
Blackmailers typically target individuals more frequently than businesses. The threats usually target personal secrets, private content, or confidential messages. The entire scheme is fundamentally based on the threat of exposure.
What Is Blackmail Under Law?
Legally, blackmail is a threat to disclose private and sensitive information of the victims unless demands are fulfilled. It does not matter whether the information is legal or illegal. If the information could harm the victim or damage their relationships, the threat is still considered blackmail.
What Makes Blackmail Different?
It’s sort of similar to the “square vs rectangle” rule. All forms of blackmail are extortion, but not all extortion cases consist of blackmail. Blackmail specifically involves using personal information as a weapon to threaten, damage, or embarrass someone. Extortion can include these types of attacks, but it is not limited to threats of exposure.
What Is Coercion?
Coercion is the broadest of the three terms. It occurs when someone is forced or threatened to act against their will. Psychological pressure, emotional manipulation, and physical intimidation are all forms of coercion. Perpetrators of coercion are not always asking for money or things of value. It can be used to influence, silence, or obtain compliance from an individual.
A few examples of coercion include:
- Forcing someone to sign a contract under threat of professional loss.
- Threatening an employee to alter official records.
- Forcing and threatening harm to get votes in someone’s favor.
- Demanding silence forcefully to cover a crime.
Coercive threats appear in personal, professional, and political fields. In criminal law, coercion is a part of larger crimes like assault, extortion, and fraud.
What Is Coercion Under Law?
From a legal perspective, coercion is the act of pressuring a person to act against their will. For this purpose, threats and intimidation are used to put pressure on victims. The law focuses on the freedom of the people. The objective doesn’t need to be acquiring a good or service, but simply to compel an unwilling behavior. That’s why coercion is a broader crime compared to extortion and blackmail.
What Makes Coercion Different?
Coercion is a common element of both blackmail and extortion. However, unlike the other two terms, the perpetrator does not necessarily need to be seeking something of value. They simply need to be attempting to sway an individual’s actions to commit this crime.
Extortion vs Blackmail vs Coercion: Legal and Practical Differences
Here is a comparison table to clearly break down the differences between the three terms.
| Feature | Extortion | Blackmail | Coercion |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intent | Demanding money, property, or any valuable thing through various threats | Controlling the victim by threatening to publish private information | Forcing the victim to act against their will |
| Threat Type | Physical harm, data leak, property damage, embarrassment, reputational damage | Revelation of secrets, photos, personal, private details | Intimidation, force, or psychological pressure |
| Motivation | Financial or physical gain | Control, manipulation, and financial gain | Compliance to do something rather than financial interest |
| Example | “Pay me or I will publish your company’s secret files.” | “Send money otherwise I will send your personal details to your employer.” | “Alter this data or lose your job.” |
| Legal Note | It is an encompassing crime that can include blackmail and coercion for a financial benefit | It is a specific type of extortion which involves private data exposure | It is broader than extortion and may not involve financial benefits |
From this comparison of extortion vs coercion vs blackmail, we can conclude that Coercion is using pressure tactics, blackmail is the threat of revelation, and extortion is the general crime of demanding money or benefits through threats. All three elements can exist in one criminal scheme, but they are independent crimes with different meanings.
Real-World Examples: How These Crimes Look Today
It is very important to understand how these crimes appear in real life. Because these crimes follow a specific pattern, victims can recognize that pattern at early stages. Here are some of the latest examples of these crimes:
- Extortion. A man from Las Vegas pleaded guilty to extortion, among other charges, after running a scheme that stole $200,000 from the victim. The man used numerous threats, including physical violence toward the victim and their family.
- Blackmail. A Mississippi police officer was charged after conducting a traffic stop involving an immigrant. During the stop, the individual admitted to lacking identification. At this point, the officer offered to “help” by not reporting the individual for a fee of $2,500.
- Coercion. A man from Seattle was charged with sex trafficking through force, fraud, and coercion. The charges stem from his use of threats, violence, and weapons to force multiple women into prostitution.
- Online Extortion (Hybrid). A former U.S. Army soldier pleaded guilty to numerous charges, including extortion, after obtaining access to the confidential data of at least 10 telecommunications companies and attempting to extort $1 million as a ransom.
In all these types of threats, Cyber Investigation supports victims with customized services. Our team can collect digital evidence, identify locations, locate IP addresses, and trace cryptocurrency wallets. Furthermore, we prepare a complete document for legal proceedings.
Types of Extortion: From Classic to Digital Threats
- Online Extortion. In this type of extortion, criminals use anonymous accounts and hacked profiles to threaten victims. They threaten to publish personal data, commit real-world harm, or commit other offenses unless the victim meets their demands.
- Business or Corporate Extortion. The attackers target executives, financial managers, and HR leaders of the companies. In this type of extortion, they threaten to breach data, which can lead to reputational damage and litigation for the company.
- Crypto and Bitcoin Extortion. Cybercriminals often use cryptocurrency wallets to receive payments. They prefer this method because they know it is difficult to trace wallets. Cyber Investigations are using blockchain analytics to trace wallets.
- Ransomware and Cyber Extortion. The attackers encrypt systems and demand payment to get data back. This type of extortion is dangerous for businesses as they need this data for daily operations and are also responsible for keeping it secure.
All these threats are very intelligent. That’s why a fast response and proper digital evidence preservation are essential. Cyber Investigation provides threat intelligence services, safe communication strategies, and an advanced level of forensic support for victims.
How Cyber Investigation Helps Victims of Extortion and Online Threats
Cyber Investigation supplies dedicated, professional services for victims of blackmail, extortion, and coercion. We are equipped with a team of cybersecurity experts. Our dedicated team can support the victims as they manage and control these threats.
Our core services include:
- Digital Evidence Collection. Our team of professionals preserves emails, chat logs, and crypto transactions. Also, the screenshots and server logs are collected and maintained according to the legal format.
- Threat Source Identification. Our experts are equipped with the latest tools to trace IP addresses, fake profiles, domains, online accounts, and cryptocurrency wallets to locate attackers.
- Communication Management. We have a professional strategy to communicate with extortionists. We advise victims how and when they need to communicate with extortionists. Also, our team can handle communication with extortionists.
- Law Enforcement Liaison. We collect evidence and prepare case files. Proper case documentation is very important for filing reports with law enforcement departments. Our professional team assists the victims in legal proceedings.
- Confidential Support. Your privacy and security remain protected during the investigation process. Our team protects the personal information and identity of the victim at all times.
Get the help you need from professional cyber investigators — all in a discreet, fast, and effective fashion.
Extortion vs Blackmail vs Coercion: When to Involve Authorities
Quick reporting from victims is very important for fast recovery. Victims often hesitate to report the crime due to fear, shame, or uncertainty. However, it’s important that these crimes are reported, as it allows law enforcement to track trends and hold cybercriminals accountable.
You should file a report if you are experiencing any of the following:
- Active financial or crypto extortion
- Threats of life and physical harm
- Frequent cyber harassment or intimidation online
- Threats to expose personal nudes, photos data and information
- Being extorted, threats from someone to perform an illegal act
- Being blackmailed or repeated blackmail attempts
Cyber Investigation is here to help. We support victims by preparing a complete documentation of the crime, including all evidence with a proper timeline of events.
Take Action: Protect Yourself with Cyber Investigations
It’s important to remember that you are not alone. Our team can help you handle extortion, blackmail, or digital coercion. If you are looking for expert guidance to manage these threats, Cyber Investigation is here to collect digital evidence and secure your online existence. For fast and confidential assistance, contact Cyber Investigation today.
FAQ
What is extortion vs bribery?
Bribery involves offering money or something of value to influence the actions of an individual. On the other hand, extortion uses threats and force to get victims to give money or something of value.
Is coercion always illegal?
Coercion becomes illegal when the freedom of someone is under threat. When freedom of choice is removed by threats, a crime has been committed.
What is extortion vs fraud?
Fraud depends on deception, while extortion is based on threats. Both are crimes, but different operational methods are used to execute them.
What is cyber extortion vs ransomware?
Cyber extortion is based on digital threats. In this crime, extortionists use digital threats to obtain money. Ransomware is a specific type of cyber extortion. In ransomware schemes, systems are encrypted until payment is made.
What is cyber extortion vs exploitation?
In cyber extortion, the criminals demand payment through threats. While in exploitation, the criminal takes advantage of someone’s vulnerability for personal benefits. Exploitation is not always based on threats.
What’s the difference between extortion and racketeering?
Racketeering is an organized, managed, and frequent criminal activity. Sometimes, extortion is also included in racketeering. However, extortion alone is a single criminal act.
