What To Do When You Are Being Blackmailed
It is a terrifying and stressful experience to be blackmailed. You might feel hopeless.
The blackmailer wants you to feel hopeless so that they can control you. But there are things you can do that may help protect yourself, protect your interests and help you cut off contact with the blackmailer.
In this blog post, readers will learn how to respond to blackmail in a calculated manner from a bar licensed attorney at the Anti-Extortion Law Firm.
Do Not Communicate With Your Blackmailer
If you have been blackmailed, you must stop talking to the blackmailer. It must be put in your mind that talking to the blackmailer just once more is likely to add a significant amount of time to blackmailing and increased risk in general.
You might be tempted to plead with the blackmailer, quibble over particulars of the blackmail, or attempt to reason with them. Data shows that these things will likely prove ineffective and are likely to make things worse.
If You Have Spoken With Your Blackmailer, Do Not Speak With Them Again
If you've already made contact with the blackmailer, this is the single most important thing that you MUST DO:
Stop communicating with the blackmailer
Though harm from interacting with them has likely occurred, you can take back your power by refusing to interact with the blackmailer from now on.
Communicating with the blackmailer without legal counsel will significantly weaken your position. While there exists risk of sharing sensitive information, the blackmailer will come to realize that you have become susceptible to them.
Block Your Blackmailer If You Cannot Hire Legal Counsel
If it is not feasible for you to hire legal help to handle the blackmail, the next safest course of action is to block the blackmailer on every platform. This means you have to block their phone number, email address, social media accounts or any other way they have contacted you.
Blocking removes their direct access to you which can help diffuse the situation. If the blackmailer is not able to get through to you, they cannot be in as strong a position to manipulate you or follow up with their threats.
If you can hire counsel, you should wait until they advise blocking if that is the best step for your individual case.
A lawyer who knows what to do in blackmail will also know what method to take based on your conditions. But if legal advice is not an option, blocking the blackmailer is preferable to continued interaction.
If You Block Your Blackmailer, You May Still Receive Messages from Other Accounts
Even after blocking the blackmailer, be prepared to receive continued message or threat calls from a new phone number, account, or another new type of contact.
In fact, reports of cyber extortion have surged by 39%, rising from 2,300 to 3,200 cases reported to Action Fraud in 2022.
This is, in part, because the blackmailer will most likely try very hard to work around and message you again.
The blackmailer might set up different accounts, acquire new devices, spoof numbers or generally employ other nefarious means to keep reaching you. Block you and fuck your blackmail plans - they want their leverage over you back.
Takeaway
1. Do not communicate with a blackmailer
2. If you have spoken to the blackmailer, stop
3. If you cannot retain legal counsel or assistance – block the blackmailer
4. Be aware that the blackmailer may attempt to reach you from other sources
