What to do if someone is blackmailing you
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What to do If you’re being blackmailed: A lawyer’s guide to help you through the situation
Blackmail can be an incredibly distressing experience, especially when it involves sensitive or personal information being used against you. Whether it's an online threat, extortion over private videos, or demands for money, it’s important to know how to navigate these situations with caution. This guide is based on 25 years of legal experience, successfully assisting victims of internet and social media blackmail. Here’s a guide to help you understand your options based on real-life scenarios people have faced.
I am being blackmailed with photos online – what should I do?
If you’re being blackmailed online or through social media, with photos, it’s essential to stay calm and avoid giving in to the blackmailer’s demands. Paying them usually leads to more demands, and it doesn't guarantee the problem will go away. Instead, focus on gathering as much evidence as possible, including screenshots of messages, emails, and any other communication.
No matter whether the photos were created by you and sent to the blackmailer or whether the blackmailer created the photos themselves, either way, the photos will be subject to privacy laws and are considered personal data. From a legal point of view, this situation involves breaches of privacy, data protection, confidence, and harassment in relation to those photos. There are also likely to be issues of copyright involved, as the photos—whether created by you or manipulated by the blackmailer—are intellectual property, further strengthening your legal grounds for action.
Once you have gathered this evidence, consider whether you wish to report the incident to the police. While blackmail is a serious criminal offence, especially when it involves private or explicit videos, there are advantages and risks to reporting it. We discuss these further in the article. It's important to note that, depending on the circumstances, the police may have limited ability to help, particularly in cases involving international elements. If privacy is a concern for you, consider the risk of information being leaked. The more people you tell about the blackmail, the greater the chance your situation could become public.
Reporting the crime to the police will likely involve them examining your phone, giving them access to your social media accounts, messages, calls, and other private information. If you're someone who values your privacy, this is an important factor to consider before proceeding. It is also worth noting that, after an intervention by our firm, it is rare for blackmailers to follow through on their threats to share the photos.
We discuss the possible reasons for this later in the article. Seeking professional legal advice from a specialist lawyer with experience in blackmail cases can significantly strengthen your position and reduce the likelihood of the blackmailer acting on their threats. Taking the right steps early on can help you regain control of the situation and put a stop to the blackmail.
I am being blackmailed over private videos – how can I stop this?
Being blackmailed with private videos can feel overwhelming, but there are steps to protect yourself. Start by reporting the blackmailer’s account to the platform where the threats are being made. Most social media platforms have strict policies against non-consensual content and harassment and can quickly suspend accounts or remove posts.
Seek advice from a specialist lawyer experienced in blackmail cases. A qualified lawyer can act swiftly to stop the blackmail and ensure that no videos are circulated online. They can also work with social media platforms and search engines to remove or prevent the publication of leaked material. As with photo blackmail, gather all evidence, including screenshots and communications, to strengthen your position.
I am a victim of extortion – what should I do?
If you’re facing extortion, it’s crucial not to give in to the demands. Paying a blackmailer often results in further threats rather than resolving the issue. Instead, document all communications, including emails, text messages, and other evidence of the extortion attempt.
Extortion is both a criminal offence and a civil wrongdoing. Through civil proceedings, extortion is treated as harassment, breach of data, and breach of privacy. Specialist lawyers can act swiftly to protect your interests, often resolving the matter through the High Court within hours.
Extortion frequently involves organised crime. Although it may initially appear to be the work of an individual, investigations often reveal sophisticated criminal networks. Taking proactive legal action demonstrates your unwillingness to comply, which can discourage the blackmailer and cause them to shift their focus elsewhere.
What should I do if someone threatens to send embarrassing videos to my family?
If you’re facing extortion, it’s crucial not to give in to the demands. Paying a blackmailer often results in further threats rather than resolving the issue. Instead, document all communications, including emails, text messages, and other evidence of the extortion attempt.
Extortion is both a criminal offence and a civil wrongdoing. Through civil proceedings, extortion is treated as harassment, breach of data, and breach of privacy. Specialist lawyers can act swiftly to protect your interests, often resolving the matter through the High Court within hours.
Extortion frequently involves organised crime. Although it may initially appear to be the work of an individual, investigations often reveal sophisticated criminal networks. Taking proactive legal action demonstrates your unwillingness to comply, which can discourage the blackmailer and cause them to shift their focus elsewhere.
Can the blackmailers be stopped from posting the videos on social media?
Yes, it is possible to stop blackmailers from posting videos on social media, and one of the most effective legal tools to achieve this is through a privacy injunction. A privacy injunction is a court order that can be granted swiftly—often within hours of filing. Once granted, the injunction is sent to social media platforms, search engines, and other relevant online services, compelling them to remove or block any content related to the blackmail or prevent it from being posted in the first place.
The value of a privacy injunction lies in its immediate effect. Social media platforms and search engines are legally required to comply with the terms of the injunction, ensuring that any sensitive or compromising material is taken down quickly or never made public. This legal action is particularly useful when you're dealing with intimate or embarrassing content that a blackmailer threatens to release. It allows you to take control of the situation and reduce the potential damage to your reputation, relationships, and mental well-being.
Privacy injunctions act swiftly to prevent sensitive material from being shared, safeguarding your reputation and mental well-being. They also apply to third parties, ensuring the content cannot be disseminated further. This decisive action shows the blackmailer you’re serious about protecting yourself, often discouraging them from continuing.
Should I report blackmail to the police?
In this section, we expand on this topic that had been covered briefly earlier. The question of whether you should report blackmail to the police comes up time after time, and as such, it is important to take a balanced approach so that you can make an informed decision. Every case is different, and as such, we recommend that you speak to a specialist blackmail lawyer before making this decision.
When deciding whether to report blackmail to the police, it’s crucial to weigh your options carefully. Blackmail is undeniably a serious criminal offence, and the law provides mechanisms to protect victims. However, when it comes to online blackmail—especially in cases that cross international borders—pursuing justice through law enforcement can present several challenges. Police may be limited in their ability to track down perpetrators, particularly if they are located in different jurisdictions or countries with varying laws and resources dedicated to cybercrime. This can make it difficult for the police to bring about a swift or satisfactory resolution.
Additionally, if you do decide to involve the police, it’s essential to understand that the process can be time-consuming, and the outcome is not always guaranteed. In some cases, the investigation may not move forward quickly enough to stop the blackmailer from acting, especially in online cases where digital content can be shared rapidly. For individuals who are in the public eye or anyone who highly values their privacy, there are further considerations. Reporting blackmail inherently means more people will become aware of the situation.
The police, the Crown Prosecution Service, and possibly even third parties may be involved, increasing the chances that sensitive information could leak out. The more individuals who know about the blackmail, the greater the likelihood that the details of the case—whether true or false—could spread beyond your control, potentially leading to reputational harm or emotional distress. Moreover, once you report the blackmail, it is standard procedure for the police to request access to your phone or any other devices involved in the incident.
This means they may want to examine your social media accounts, text messages, phone calls, and other private data stored on your devices. For many people, the idea of granting such broad access can feel invasive, especially if the information on their phone is not directly related to the case but is still of a personal or sensitive nature. You may be required to hand over more than just the blackmail-related information, and there is no absolute guarantee of privacy protection during an investigation.
The decision to report blackmail is not one to be taken lightly. While there are clear legal benefits to involving law enforcement, such as the potential to catch and prosecute the perpetrator, there are also personal risks to consider. You must assess whether the scrutiny, potential privacy breaches, and likelihood of a resolution outweigh the risks of not reporting and continuing to handle the situation privately. Consulting with a legal professional or specialist lawyer before making a final decision can help clarify your options and ensure that you make the best choice for your circumstances. Read more about How to deal with internet blackmail and extortion or get in touch with our expert blackmail lawyers now!
