SNAPCHAT SEXTORTION HELP 24/7

Sextortion on Snapchat occurs when a cybercriminal convinces their target to send them intimate content before turning it around and using it as extortion leverage. The ease of sharing photos on the platform — as well as the time-sensitive nature of Snaps — has made the platform a popular avenue for sextortion.

The sextortionist typically sends a friend request from a fabricated profile that appears to belong to an individual around the target’s age. They study your other online accounts to profile you and use your shared information to gain your trust before requesting your nudes.

Everything changes after you comply with their request. Their true intentions quickly become clear once they have your nudes. The sextortionist threatens to send your content to your family, friends, professional connections, and other contacts unless you pay them.

Sextortion can happen to any Snapchat user, regardless of age, race, gender, or social status. All users should take preventative measures to avoid falling victim. Here are some practices that can help keep you safe on Snapchat.

• Use Heightened Privacy Settings: Increase your privacy on the platform by adjusting your “Who Can…” settings. Additionally, you should heavily vet your friend requests and only accept ones coming from individuals whose identity is confirmed.
• Avoid Oversharing: The sextortionist could be as close to you as a romantic partner, as far away as a complete stranger, or anywhere in-between. Moreover, you need to take extreme caution if you decide to engage in sexting on Snapchat, even if it’s with someone you believe you can trust.
• Listen to Your Intuition: You may get the sense that something is off during a conversation on Snapchat. It might be inconsistent language, spiritic behavior, or some small nuance that you can’t quite pinpoint. Regardless, it’s best to trust your gut if something feels fishy about your new connection.

Sextortionists are relentless and can wear down even the most seasoned Snapchat users. Here are the immediate steps you should take if you’re faced with Snapchat sextortion:

• Don’t Pay the Sextortionist: This will not make the sextortionist go away and almost always encourages further demands. You should instead cut off communication with the criminal. However, refrain from blocking them, as this can result in the loss of critical evidence and lead to a retaliatory release of your content.
• Gather Evidence: Take screenshots of any relevant data — including profiles, messages, shared content, and timestamps — to create an accurate timeline of the crime. You will need this proof if you choose to pursue legal action against the perpetator.
• Notify the Proper Authorities: You should inform Snapchat of the abusive behavior to help them remove the account responsible. You should also report the crime to law enforcement to create a record of the incident.

You should report Snapchat sextortion and other cybercrimes to the system administrator. To report an account on Snapchat:

1. Open the chat with the account and press and hold their username
2. Select the “Manage Friendship” option
3. Select the “Report” option

You should also inform law enforcement. To inform your local police, you can file a report in person by going to the station. Some precincts also allow victims to report crimes online or over the phone.

If the local police can’t solve your case, you should notify the FBI. You can report cybercrime to the FBI by visiting your local field office, calling 1-800-CALL-FBI, or online through the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).

It’s impossible to say for certain whether a sextortionist will follow through on their threats, but there are factors that can impact the chances of exposure.

Factors That May Lead a Sextortionist to Follow Through:

• Targets with high social status, net worth, and more to lose if their reputation is tarnished.
• Targets who have responded with either a willingness to comply or immediate confrontation.

Factors That May Deter a Sextortionist from Following Through:

• Loss of leverage by releasing the content they are trying to extort you with
• Fear of getting caught either from their additional criminal behavior or the involvement of law enforcement and cybersecurity professionals.

The CI team has years of experience combatting sextortion. We’ve successfully helped many victims resolve their issues and regain control, and we’d be honored to have the opportunity to help you as well.

We can follow the cybercriminal’s digital footprint and uncover their true identity. Our entire investigation can also be used to support legal actions you may want to take against the criminal in the future. We document our investigation to ensure its admissibility as evidence.

Once the perpetrator’s identity is revealed, our team can help you find a law enforcement agency with the jurisdiction to pursue your sextortionist. After your case has been resolved, we can still be of service by providing ongoing monitorization.