Last Updated on July 7, 2023
Sextortion is the internet crime of our times. What was once rare, only found in a few pocket cases and situations, has become a world-wide threat online. These situations can be anxiety-inducing for anyone who faced with online sextortion. Who might find out? How will it affect your livelihood? Sextortionists couldn’t care less about how they wield the power to destroy a person’s life in a sextortion scam. Despite knowing they can do so to great effect. Today, we will be examining the possible worst-case-scenarios of online sextortion. Keep on reading how sextortion can ruin your life if not handled with care.
What Is Sextortion?
If you’ve already been following our articles, you know a bit already about what sextortion is . But to summarize. Sextortion typically starts out with a potential victim being contacted on social media, dating, or chat platforms. These can include but aren’t limited to platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Tinder and many various others. Even message boards like Reddit aren’t immune to sextortionists lurking, just waiting for someone to fall victim to them.
The scam typically occurs after a potential sextortion victim makes is contacted by a scammer who pretends to be someone attractive and interested in the victim. They initiate conversation, starting with basic chatter and questions to build rapport before turning conversations towards more romantic and sexually charged topics.
After baiting a sextortion victim with (typically stolen or otherwise faked) explicit photos, sextortionists will then hold that media for ransom with the threat of releasing the content to the victim’s contacts – friends, family, colleagues, and so on. Unless you pay them
Can Sextortion Ruin Your Life – Worst Case Scenarios
There’s quite a few resources out there when it comes to advice on how to deal with sextortion. Some experts and organizations recommend ignoring a scammer entirely once the veil of mystery is pulled back, under the premise that they will go away. The truth is there are many possible outcomes. And when it comes to your released content ….. yes, it can potentially ruin if not alter your life. Some possible ramifications could include:
- Shaming or Ridicule from Family and Friends. This is one of the chief impacts online sextortion can have on your life. When sextortionists know your accounts on multiple connected platforms, they have a wider ability to distribute this media. If this occurs, it can lead to damaged personal relationships and even conflict with your friends, family, and colleagues.
- Employment Risks. Aside from your personal life, if you’ve linked any information about your employer or your business operations on any of the platforms sextortionists might have accessed, you’ve also exposed yourself to another potential avenue of release. Scammers do not do so as frequently. Naturally, this leads to damages in reputation that can affect your employment as well as your opportunities down the line.
- False Persecution and Potential Investigations. Some sextortionists really go the extra mile when it comes to how they wish to besmirch your good name. There are those that, after receiving your content, may go about doctoring and editing your communications and media to make it seem that you have been in communication with someone much younger than you actually are speaking with, typically to the effect of framing you as communicating with a minor. Sextortion victims may find themselves then being labeled. This may lead to official investigations should the material come to the attention of law enforcement bodies.
REPORT ONLINE SEXTORTION
Online sextortion is a difficult situation for anyone to experience. The mental anguish and the possibilities can be daunting to work through. It may be difficult to decide what the best one is for you, if you are a sextortion victim.
There are many organizations and experts out there who can help. We always recommend looking around, and seeing you feel most confident in speaking with towards getting help with your situation. Cyber Investigation, for our part, does carry a success rate of over 90%. When it comes to discreetly and quickly dealing with sextortion online and protecting our clients from the worst possible scenarios. If you need guidance, consider reaching out to us at 1-844-243-1272, or chat with us online; we’re here to take your case 24/7. Now you Know the answer to the question Can Sextortion Ruin Your Life. Its your decision what to do if you faced with sextortion Contact our sextortion helpline 24/7
