Blackmail Scams - Sextortion Scams

Victims who come here and are still unsure if this is a scam , can read and review the following resources . And if you are in crisis can seek anonymous assistance at the following resources .

http://www.connectsafely.org/faq-on-sex ... extortion/

What are my options for getting help?

* Contacting a crisis hotline or chat service, online or via phone. These can be found all over the US and in many other countries. This is a good option if you prefer to remain anonymous while exploring how to proceed, and crisis lines can often refer you to a victim advocate or other legal adviser near you. [In the US, you can search for one by zip code here or visit CrisisChat.org.]

* Talking with a victim advocate or social worker in your town or city. In the US, there are victim advocates in county offices, police stations, domestic violence prevention centers, rape crisis centers, sheriff’s offices, and offices of state attorneys general. Victim advocates can help you gather evidence, put together a safety plan (figure out how to keep you safe from what’s being threatened), and/or get a civil protection or anti-stalking order against the person threatening you. [You can do a Web search for “victim advocate” in your location or, in the US, call the National Organization for Victim Assistance in the Washington, D.C., area – 1-800-TRY-NOVA/800-879-6682 or go to tryNOVA.org.]

Lifeline Crisis Chat
Toll Free
1-800-273-8255
http://www.crisischat.org/

https://www.hopeline-nc.org/

https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/t ... meone-now/

National Organization for Victim Assistance

http://www.trynova.org/

https://www.cleveland.police.uk/advice- ... rtion.aspx

Sextortion Advice

The below advice is based on recent experience and methodologies adopted by various law enforcement agencies both in the UK and overseas but each case is different and a flexible approach should be adopted.
1.Do NOT panic. You have already taken the first big step by recognising you are the ‘victim’ in this and that you may require support to help you through this difficult time. The Police will take your case seriously, will deal with it in confidence, and will not make judgements on your behaviour.

2.Do NOT pay. Although some victims who have paid what the offenders have demanded and hear no more about it, many others who have paid have then continued to receive further and often increasing demands. In some cases even when the demands have been met the offenders will still go on to post the videos anyway.

3.Do NOT communicate further with the offenders. Obtain screen shots of any communication. Deactivate your Facebook account and use the online reporting process to report the matter to Skype, YouTube etc. to have any video blocked and to set up an alert in case the video resurfaces. Deactivating the Facebook account rather than shutting it down will ensure data is preserved and will assist law enforcement in obtaining evidence. The account can also be reactivated at any time ensuring online memories are not lost forever.

The Police can assist you with more specific advice regarding contacting the various sites / providers etc. (See Below)

1.In general once they're blocked, the offenders can't contact you. If they are unable to do so then they can't threaten you or make demands, so they tend to move on fairly
quickly. However, they may try to utilise other contact routes that they are aware of, so be mindful of all sites where communication has been made or you are linked to.

2.If you have already paid, check to see if the money has been collected. If it has, and if you are able, then make a note of where it was collected from. If it hasn't, then you can cancel the payment - and the sooner you do that the better.

Organized sextortion led four British men to suicide​

https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/2016/11 ... blackmail/

Sextortion/webcam blackmail is a booming business for organised crime groups from the Philippines, Ivory Coast and Morocco, and young men across the UK are the most sought-after victims.

Utah mother shares experience of son who died by suicide after ‘sextortion’ scam

SALT LAKE CITY – A Utah mother is speaking out about the disturbing trend called Sextortion, where people online use personal pictures to blackmail victims.

http://fox13now.com/2017/01/13/utah-mot ... tion-scam/

Manila police raid 'sextortion' suspects
Sextortion support group offers help

http://www.bbc.com/news/av/technology-3 ... nes-police

Blackmail Scams/Sextortion Scams.

There are various types of these scams. I will explain a few.

Many Social Media Sites such as Skype, Kik, Facebook, Pof, Craigslist, okcupid. Badoo and Chatroulette are a home for Scammers and Thieves to use to scam by using threats of fear and/or criminal charges.

This scam involves 'grooming' a potential victim into sending compromising photographs/video to the scammer - In some scams the scammer/thief will, initially, send compromising pictures which he/she will say are of him/her -- these will be stolen from elsewhere

Types of blackmail/sextortion scams:

Threatening to send your images to your Facebook friends and family.

Scammer will meet you on a social media site and ask to exchange compromising images. He may have asked prior or will ask later to be added to your Facebook account.

Now the scam begins. He will tell you to send money via Moneygram, Western Union, Amazon gift card, Prepaid scratch off card or any other untraceable method to him.

In some situations the scammer will tell you to sign up to a cam site or they will post your pictures/video. This is also a scam. It may lead into credit card phishing.

He will tell you if you do not comply he will send the photo’s to your Facebook friends list.

Another version of this scam is Under Age girls/boys.

The scammer will meet you again on a social media site. He/she will tell you they are over the age of 18. As you progress communicating with this person/scammer he will ask to exchange indecent photographs/video.

After you exchange photo’s you will be contacted by the scammers fake "Father" or "Mother". They will tell you that you sent pictures to an under age girl/boy. They will want you to send money for therapy'damages or for them not to go to the police. In some cases the scammer has contacted victim pretending to be Law Enforcement/Private Investigators, possibly going as far as to spoof the number of a real local Law Enforcement department to make it appear that they are calling.

There are also seen cases where a scammer pretends to an online agent looking for pedophiles. This scam is using the same payment methods mentioned above. The Scammer will tell you that if you pay them they will not report it.

Recommended Actions:

It is best to stop all contact with the scammers. Ignore his calls and messages.

Ignore all demands for money. If you pay the scammer he will continue to blackmail you. You will only stop paying when you go broke or realize you are being scammed.

Deactivate your Facebook account for two weeks. Change your photo or avatar when you reactivate it or get a new one. Also change your user name. Do not accept requests from anyone you have never met.

Do the above for all social media and Skype.

You may have to change your phone numbers.

File a report with your local law enforcement agency and to one of the following below if possible.

USA: IC3 - http://www.ic3.gov/default.aspx
Canada: Anti Fraud Center - http://www.antifraudcentre-centreantifr ... index.shtm
UK: Action Fraud - http://www.actionfraud.police.uk/

For members serving US Navy & Marines personnel, you can report it to the Naval Criminal Investigative Services as follows:

Your local NCIS Office can be foudn at http://www.ncis.navy.mil

Text "NCIS" + your tip info to
Crimes (274637)

"Tip Submit" Android and iPhone App
Select NCIS as Agency

NCIS Hotline 1-877-579-3648

Naval Criminal Investigative Service
Russell-Knox Building
27130 Telegraph Road
Quantico, VA 22134

If you cannot report to NCIS, notify your security officer, supervisor, or command. Per DoDD 5240.06, they are
required to notify NCIS within 72 hours.

Link to further information (PDF file) on sextortion produced by the NCIS - http://www.ncis.navy.mil/PublishingImag ... hure_4.pdf

https://www.army.mil/article/181694/arm ... tion_scams

Army CID warns Soldiers to beware of 'sextortion' scams

Air Force Warning:
https://publicintelligence.net/usaf-sextortion/

Media Reports: http://abcnews.go.com/US/texas-professo ... d=18814474

https://www.army.mil/article/158108/cid ... mail_scams

http://fox13now.com/2017/01/12/logan-po ... tion-scam/

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-onl ... story.html

http://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2016/10/1 ... up-at-umd/

http://www.wusa9.com/news/local/fairfax ... /184933229

Further reading posted by Dotti: viewtopic.php?f=13&t=18484

I sent intimate photos/video to my scammer or he says he recorded my activities on webcam, and now he is threatening to publish them. What can I do?
Unfortunately, there is not much you can do. The only advice we can give you is not to give in to blackmail demands, and once again, cut off ALL contact with the scammer. If he cannot reach you, he cannot blackmail you. If he knows that he has power over you, he will continue to abuse that power and demand more and more money. He may promise to destroy the photos/video, but remember he is a liar and a thief, and his promises are worth nothing.

The truth is, in most cases the scammer will not follow through with this threat, because following through will cost him time and money. If he tries to post anything pornographic, most public sites would delete it anyway. In the unlikely event that he does post something, you need to be proactive and contact the site immediately to have it removed. Depending on the threats, you may want to file a report with law enforcement.

Just remember for the future that any photo or video you give to ANYONE is out of your control, and anything you do on webcam can be recorded. This particular issue is not exclusive to scammers - the internet is full of stories of angry people who posted intimate details or photos/video of ex-partners after a relationship ended badly.

If you sent or received nudes knowing or believing that you were communicating with a minor the above does not apply to you.

In this situation, we are not willing/nor will assist you..

https://www.justice.gov/criminal-ceos/c ... ornography

Notably, the legal definition of sexually explicit conduct does not require that an image depict a child engaging in sexual activity. A picture of a naked child may constitute illegal child pornography if it is sufficiently sexually suggestive. Additionally, the age of consent for sexual activity in a given state is irrelevant; any depiction of a minor under 18 years of age engaging in sexually explicit conduct is illegal.

It is a scam.

@ You were directed to read the first post of this thread.

I have re-posted the second post and the first.

If you still have concerns it is not a scam. Contact legal advice.

Where are these people located?, my situation said they were located in South Carolina but what I've heard most of them are overseas and using some sort of proxy server that shows them in another location. I've taken your guy's advice, changed my number and shut down or deactivated the majority of my social media accounts for the time being even though the scammer only contacted me through POF and messaging just in case they try to post that screenshot of the fabricated text messages, which I'm lucky in this case because they didn't know my real age because they didn't actually see my profile and just made a guess based on what my picture looked like... still worried they might find out if they find me somewhere else though, or the actual pics I sent them earlier in the conversation. They know where my school is though which is very worrying. Hopefully they won't be able to do anything since they don't know my last name and will move on, I hope that talking to that cop out of the blue scared them a bit, I think they thought I was bluffing.

@Tonypowell993

I have advised you it is a scam and re-posted some post.

I also told you if you do not believe us to contact an attorney.

If you post again with doubt or questioning, you will be not be with us any more.

Our members can not dedicate time to you after we stated it is a scam. 72 pages on this thread support it. Take your time and read it.

If you post again please do not question it.

Stop all contact.

If it was real. Money can not make it go away.

The scammer is asking for money that can not be traced.

@Tonypowell993

I'm going to ad a comment here . Something that was wrong happened to you on the internet . You saw red flags . You researched those red flags and it brought you here to this thread . You asked questions and were given answers and were also given additional resources for victims . And all those resources are now all on this same page . Its time for you to calm down , take a few deep breaths and review those resources and TAKE ACTION . We cannot do it for you . Its time for you to review those resources on your own initiative . There is nothing further that this site or the members can do for you . ITS UP TO YOU TO ACCEPT AND TAKE ACTION ON YOUR OWN BEHALF , or don't accept and do nothing . WE CANNOT HELP YOU ANY FURTHER .

Thank you for posting your experiences on Scamwarners . Your post will help warn other potential victims of this Blackmail / Extortion Scam

I'm just going to block them. I've already changed my phone number so that will help. Thank you all for your help. Those scammers/blackmailers just want to watch the world burn.

Thank you . Report this scam on the IC3 website please .

https://www.ic3.gov/default.aspx

"Those scammers/blackmailers just want to watch the world burn."

And we're here to try to stop it . You need to do your part and report this Blackmail / Extortion Crime .

[AlanJones]

Yeserday unknown girl send me friend request on facebook and chated with me i immediately saw that is fake account and asked me for skype video he asked me do i love sex and if i want to see her naked and to show her my naked body but he was scammer with fake video showing me then he blackmailed me asking for money for her sick sister 2000$ i said i dont have so much he say to send him 100 euros or he will post me i begged him not to do it then i searched to find sollution and deleted, blocked and reported his profile on facebook i am worried and need help he said he will post video with some facebook friends and showed on wheich profiles will be send video until now nothing was posted but i am deeply worried need help. I can post his facebook name here if that is needed

Thank you Bryon for all the info. I'm going to make a report with the IC3!

@johnwalker1975

You may be in the early stage.

Read the first post of this thread and apply the suggestions.

This same history is happening to me. I met a girl at okcupid when in her profile said to have 19 years old. After taking a little bit in the app, without any sexual contents just getting know each other, we exchange number. The girl name was Heather. At first, everything looks normal, she told me that live at silverprings in the Washington area and I let her know that I lived in Downtown DC. She told me that was originally from Macon Georgia and that her parents were military, that she had two sisters and she was planning to go college next semester for child development and registered nurse. After she told me that, I told her that I would take a shower. She asked me to send you a pic. I replied that we didn't know each other and that already she wanted to watch me naked. Since I didn't know if she was real, I asked her first that If she wanted a photo of me she needed to send it first. But she replied that why do I have to need to see her first, she replied that I must stop teasing her. At this time, since I didn't know the "age" of the girl - I supposed that she has 19 as okcupid saids - and I sent her a nude pics of me. Then it supposed to be her turn but she didn't sent anything after 1 hour. We continue talking and we agree to meet each other at my place. The next day, at the morning I asked her if she was comming to my place, she said that will let me know arround 3 pm. At 1 pm, she told me that couldn't make and that is better the next day. So we agree to met us the next day. However, that day at night; I told her that was looking for a video for touching myselft (silly of me). She asked me for made a video for her, but I replied that first, she needed to make one for me. At this point, I sent her a nude pic of me as inspiration, later on, she sent the video. After that, we stop talking.

The next day, around 8 am I sent her a message saying "Good Morning". But I didn't' have an answer. At 2 pm, I sent her a message saying "Would you able to come to my house today?". She answered, "Yes, address please, I'll meet you". I gave her my address - again silly of me - and asked her what time is she going? She said at 6. At 5.30, I messaged her asking if she will be able to make it at 6pm, I didn't receive any answer. At 6.15 pm, I messaged her saying that I am in my way to home and asking her where she was.

At this time, I receive a call from men who calls himself as James Wingate. He told me that he was a private investigator and that he had been notified the possible encounter between my and the daughter of Mr. Scoot, who is 16 years old. I was in shoot when he told me that. I answered that I only know that I have been in touch with a 19 years old girl, that I didn't know that she was 16. He told me that will be speaking with the family, to arrange the situation. After that, I received the call from the father (Mr. Scott) who said to me that is I wanted to avoid that he goes to the authorities/police I have to help him with the bill for the counseling fees of the place where he's sending her daughter. At first he, said was sending her to "Three Rivers Oaks Counseling" and that my part of the bill was $2,135. He told me if I cant pay the total amount he can take partial payments, that he can put me on a payment plan.

Since I want to make sure that this wasn't a fraud I asked him to send me the bill for the treatment services. At that moment, he sends me a pic taken by his phone of a document - I still have - an outpatient treatment plan agreement from Three Rivers behavioral health main campus with the same logo and everything as the website in Columbia, SC (https://www.threeriversbehavioral.org/m ... rivacy.php) with Missy Scott patient, David Scott father and Tina Scott signatures on it So I figured it was legit, and I get scared. The pics were following with this message:
- She sent you this text about her age
- Oh okay, well about me, I'm originally from SC. And My family and I moved out here to be closer to my mom's doctor. She's going through leukemia therapy at the moment for her cancer. I really try not to let it get me down And as far as what I'm looking for, well I'm honestly just looking for someone who can treat me right with the same respect and love that I'll give to them. Ultimately I want to be in a relationship. Just want a good guy. I'm honestly into older guy because of the chemistry. And I really enjoy the vibe. I'm 16, and birthday is in Oct I hope that's not a problem.
(Those messages are copied verbatim)

In my defense, I have to said that I didn't receive that text on my cell phone because I wouldn't consider myself to be with a young girl. I said this to the father. At this time, all the conversation was through text messages. I apologized to him and let him know that I will like to rectify the situation because I didn't want any trouble. After a back and forth about the situation, he proposed that I paid down 100 every week until I complete the $2,135. Since I was scared, but no a complete idiot because I know that in this case of an agreement a contract must be redacted. So I asked him if we can have a writing agreement in order that both of us know all the conditions of this situation and was for me a guarantee that no future action will be taken against me. Mr. Scott agrees to this and said that will have the contract for the next day. I asked him that please attach the quota of the treatment to the agreement because I was able to see it clearly on my phone, he replied that there wasn't any problem and asked for my gmail account, which I gave to him.

Minutes later, Mr. Scott text me saying that Mr. Wingates have the contract is about to send it to me. I received an email from the following email address ([email protected]). Where was attached a pdf file, in which was writing the following:

On this 18th day of September, 2017, I James Wingate, have mediated an agreement between
David Scott, and Victor Manuel Cabrera, for the intensive purposes of settling a personal
dispute, without the involvement of the authorities.
After several open discussions, in which both parties were willing and cooperative, an
arrangement has been made for both sides to take fifty percent ownership of a bill totaling
$4270.00. Mr. Cabrera has agreed to pay $100.00 per week until his agreed upon debt of,
$2135.00 has been paid in full.

With his signature he agrees to the above stated terms.
September 18th, 2017
James Wingate
David Scott
Victor Manuel Cabrera

Failure to meet any part of the agreement stated within, by either party, will constitute a breach
of contract and can result in legal ramifications.

The pdf contains the logo of this private agent (http://confidentialinv.com/) When I notice that, I was suspicious because when I spoke with Mr. Wingate I asked him if he has an office in Washington DC and he answered yes, but this agent does not have any office in fact around DC. Mr. Scott text me if I received the contract. I reply him that I will check my mail an let her know. He said: ok, sir.

At this time, I started to make a search on the internet to find any clue in order to know if this was real or not. That how I find this. Because they sent to my the same an outpatient treatment plan agreement that was sent to the other guy, and the same document with the same characteristic cannot be delivered twice. Also, I navigate through the page of the private agent and any clue of this Mr. Wingate was found. So that's when I realize that this was a scams/extortion. After this. I block both number Mr. Scott and Mr. Wingate; and also block the email address of Mr. Wingate from my gmail account.

Even though I think this is a scram, I feel a little fear for what could happen since this person know my address. Could you give an advice regarding this matter?

Also Here is a list of names and numbers used so far if you could tell me if any of them are fakes or bogus numbers I would appreciate it.

(770)940-9430 (number of the girl and also number that Mr. Scott is using to communicate with me)
(843)584-0094 (Mr. James Wingate - private investigator from Confidential Investigations)

I'm sorry this happened to you. Follow the advice in the first post of this topic:

https://scamwarners.com/forum/viewtopic ... 74#p283120

I'm sorry this happened to you. Follow the advice in the first post of this topic:

https://scamwarners.com/forum/viewtopic ... 74#p283120

I already filled out my complaint IC3. Could somebody check if there is an employee named Mr. James Wingate at this company http://confidentialinv.com/undercover-investigation/. They have a number, but I can't call them since am gonna block my cell phone, and because my English skills are not too good for this situation. Could somebody help me on this?

It does not matter if Wingate is an employee or not. The scammer can use any name.

However, PI's do write legal contracts.

Stupid scammers do not know the difference between civil and criminal law.