How to avoid becoming a victim of online blackmail

In today’s ever more intertwined digital way of life, the benefits and technologies abound but so do the dangers. Online blackmail is taking place through new avenues that are quite often unpredictable. Whether it involves the threat of exposing compromising information or demanding money in exchange for silence, there’s a great variety in which online blackmail can be experienced. It can happen to any one of us. That’s why this guide is designed to equip you with the tools for falling victim to such schemes.

Recognizing the warning signs of blackmail

We all like to think that the people we are interacting with come with good intentions. Sadly this is not always the case as the internet is fraught with predators. Indeed, according to RPC legal, cyber extortion grew by 39% over 2022-2023. However, there are simple tell-tale signs that can reveal scammers before they can get a chance to exploit you. Early recognition is the best way to avoid becoming a victim.

Here are some tactics they use:

1. Threatening to expose your secrets: some cyber criminals try to acquire dirt on people, nude photos or videos, or their chat histories in which they had engaged in embarrassing or illegal acts. They’ll usually show a sample as evidence of the dirt they have on you. Of course they’ll demand money in exchange for their silence. 
2. Anonymously contacting you or approaching you in a suspicious way: if someone is writing you without identifying themselves whether it’s via Facebook, email, or text messages, it’s usually bad news. At times, they may start with small talk to get you to lower your guard first
3. Urgent demands: a common scam is calling a family member and claiming that their loved one has been in an accident and that they need money right away to take care of them. They’re hoping they’ll get what they want out of you before you have time to think. They may also demand money not to harm the person themselves. 
4. Inappropriate requests: it’s common for people to not just ask for money but also gifts, special favors, intimate favors or photos, or your silence on their own actions. In the meantime, they may introduce themselves as a friend or a partner to create emotional manipulation.
5. Promising to “help” you with private issues: the person may contact you mentioning that someone else has compromising content on them and that they are offering to “fix” the situation as the solution. This then, however, leads to extortion of more money under other excuses.

Strengthening your online security

There are steps that you can take today to begin to reduce the likelihood of falling victim to a scam to a minimum. Scammers rely on people being careless and giving out or publishing their personal information willy-nilly.

Here are some ways to secure your information online:

1. Use strong, unique passwords: too many people use the easiest passwords to guess ever, such as their birthday or the word “password” itself. Rather than that, come up with a complex password consisting of at least one number, one symbol, and one upper-case letter. Password managers on different sites can generate passwords for you.
2. Enable two-factor authentication: This gives you an added layer of protection in the form of a code being sent to your phone or an authenticator app like Google authenticator. In this case, even if someone figured out your password, it would be useless to them.
3. Use antivirus and anti-malware software: there are all kinds of malware and viruses that people accidentally download and get on your computer. If that does happen, you are strongly recommended to get an antivirus and run regular scans.
4. Regularly update your security settings: as time goes by, cybercriminals prod new loopholes in operating systems, social media platforms, and financial institutions’ websites, so continually updating apps and your devices is important to maintain your security. Turn on any privacy and security features available, such as keeping your social media account available only to those you know.

Staying mindful of what you share online

You will do much to reduce the risk of any scammers targeting you if you simply control what information you share online. Most blackmailers rely on these things specifically to run their scams.

Do not share:

• Personally identifiable information: this is sensitive information like your full name, home address, phone number, bank information, let alone your social security number or driver’s license number. 
• Intimate photos or videos: sextortion is common as a ransom. Even if you trust the person you’re sending them to, once it’s out there, you lose control of it. Think twice before sending out intimate content of yourself. WeProtect detailed how this problem has been skyrocketing in recent years.
• Location and real-time updates: someone could use this information to track you. Avoid posting your exact location, especially if it reveals your regular routines.

What to do if you’ve become the victim of online blackmail

If you do happen to find yourself in a compromising situation in which you’re being extorted, stay calm, and act quickly and strategically. By doing so, you can prevent the situation from escalating.

1. Don’t give in to their demands: one of the most important things is not to comply with the blackmailer’s demands, whatever it is that they want. In all likelihood they will only continue to demand more. 
2. Preserve evidence: especially considering the fact that you’ll likely need to file charges against the potential harasser and evidence may help professionals identify what’s going on for you, keeping the materials of the harasser may well come in handy. This includes screenshots, emails, text messages, and records on whatever medium you used. Save everything.
3. Report to the platform or service provider: if it’s some particular platform you’re being blackmailed on, like an app or by email, report the criminal to the platform right away. Most platforms have built-in mechanisms for dealing with harassment or abuse. It may result in them having their account suspended or banned, at which point they won’t be able to bother you anymore.
4. Call the police: as this is a serious crime, you should definitely file a report with the police if you feel like you’re in danger or may be harmed. Law enforcement usually has established methods for handling extortion. 
5. Seek professional help: there are people who specialize in resolving these situations, such as lawyers and cybersecurity experts. A lawyer can explain to you your legal recourse while a cybercriminal can help explain to you what to do next online.
6. Consider taking steps to protect your identity: change your passwords, set up dual-factor authentication, and notify your bank or credit card company if you think your financial data is at risk. If you’ve published videos or photos, consider taking them down and seeking online reputation management services.