How Often Do Sextortionists Follow Through?

If you’re a victim of sextortion, you’re likely consumed by one terrifying question: will they actually do it? Will the person blackmailing you follow through and publish your intimate photos or videos?

At Minc Law, we’ve guided countless clients through this nightmare scenario. While every case is unique, our experience provides valuable insight into the realities of sextortion. The headline is this: in the vast majority of cases, sextortionists do not follow through on their threats to publish intimate content.

Understanding Sextortion

Sextortion, a rapidly growing criminal threat, involves the act of threatening to release explicit or sensitive material unless the victim complies with certain demands, usually monetary. It is a form of manipulation that preys on the vulnerability of both adults and minors, leveraging the fear of public exposure or embarrassment.

While these threats are alarmingly frequent, it is crucial to understand that sextortionists do not always follow through, often using the mere threat as their primary tool of coercion.

How Often Do Sextortionists Actually Post Intimate Content?

In our experience handling hundreds of sextortion cases, we’ve found that less than 20% of sextortionists ultimately follow through on their threats to publish a victim’s intimate content.

It’s worth noting that our findings may contrast with some other available data. For instance, a survey by the anti-trafficking organization Thorn found that 45% of sextortion victims reported their perpetrator carrying out their threats.

While this discrepancy could be due to differences in sample size, victim demographics, or other methodological factors, we believe our clients’ lower exposure rate is influenced by the proactive legal strategies we employ on their behalf.

Factors That May Increase the Risk of Follow Through

The decision to follow through is often influenced by several key factors:

• The Vulnerability of the Target: A target who appears more vulnerable or afraid may inadvertently encourage the perpetrator to follow through.
• The Threats and Demands: The nature of the demands themselves can influence the likelihood of follow-through. If the demands are specific and targeted, the risk may increase.
• The Criminal’s Motives: The personal motivations and goals of the sextortionist play a crucial role. If the crime is driven by revenge or a personal vendetta, especially if the perpetrator knows the victim, it becomes more about personal retaliation than leverage.
• Continued Communication: Engaging further with a sextortionist can escalate the situation. A criminal cannot threaten you if they cannot get a hold of you, and continued communication may lead to increased threats or demands, complicating the victim’s ability to disengage.
• Previous Compliance: If a victim has previously complied with demands or made payments, this may set an expectation of continued return, influencing the sextortionist to escalate their efforts.
• Investment: The amount of time and effort a sextortionist has invested in their scheme can impact their decision. Increased harassment might signal a final effort to coerce compliance or an impending decision to give up.
• Impulsivity: The impulsiveness of the sextortionist can be a factor. When they feel cornered or strung along, they might act rashly and release the content.

Each sextortion case is unique, and there is no universal way to predict the likelihood of a sextortionist following through. Regardless, it is crucial to take proactive steps for protection, such as blocking the individual, reporting the incident, and securing online accounts and personal information.

Factors That May Decrease the Chances of Follow-Through

There are several key factors that can decrease the likelihood of a sextortionist following through with their threats:

• Non-Response: If you do not engage with the sextortionist or comply with their demands, it can influence their perception of you as a viable target. Without engagement or payment, they may think that the effort required is not worth the potential gain.
• Reporting the Incident: Notifying the authorities about a sextortion attempt can significantly deter the perpetrator. The increased risk of legal consequences and the possibility of being identified and apprehended can dissuade them from persisting.
• Seeking Professional Assistance: Involving lawyers or cybersecurity experts can heighten the risks for the sextortionist. Professional intervention signals a serious intent to pursue legal action, potentially intimidating the perpetrator.
• Loss of Leverage: Sextortionists rely on the threat of releasing compromising material as their primary leverage. Once the material is released, many victims will no longer feel compelled to submit to their demands.
• Blocking the Sextortionist: Blocking the perpetrator on social media and other platforms can impede their ability to continue their threats. Removing their direct line of contact makes it more challenging for them to harass you.

Immediate Steps to Take If You Are Sextorted

If you’re a victim of sextortion, it’s crucial to act quickly and strategically. Here are the key steps to take:

1. Remember, it’s not your fault. Sextortion is a crime, and you are the victim. Don’t let feelings of shame or guilt prevent you from seeking help.
2. Stop all communication with the sextortionist. Engaging with them, even to refuse their demands, can escalate the situation. Cut off their ability to contact you.
3. Do not pay the blackmailer. Complying with their demands rarely resolves the issue and often leads to escalating demands.
4. Preserve all evidence. Take screenshots of all communications, including threats and any intimate content. Note the dates, times, and platforms involved. This evidence is crucial for reporting the crime.
5. Increase your online privacy. Immediately set all social media accounts to the highest privacy settings. If the sextortionist has already made contact, block them on all platforms. Consider temporarily deactivating your accounts.
6. Report the sextortionist to the platforms involved. Most major social media sites and apps have processes for reporting abuse. Consult our platform-specific guides for detailed instructions.
7. Notify the authorities. File reports with your local police, the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s CyberTipline if the victim is a minor.
8. Consult with an experienced sextortion attorney. A knowledgeable lawyer can help you navigate the legal landscape, communicate with law enforcement, and remove any content that gets posted. They can provide crucial support during this difficult time.

Remember, you have more power than you may feel in the moment. By taking these proactive steps and seeking help, you can protect yourself and fight back against your sextortionist.

We Help Victims of Sextortion Navigate This Distressing Situation

If you are the target of sextortion and want to explore your options to prevent the content from being released or remove the content (if it was posted), we can help. We have extensive experience assisting individuals targeted by this distressing crime and have helped hundreds of victims navigate their way to safe harbor.

At Minc Law, we provide objective advice on actionable steps you can take to shore up your online presence and mitigate the effects of sextortion attacks. We take over communications with perpetrators and provide compassionate counsel during this time. You are not alone and have more power than you think in this situation. Reach out to schedule your initial consultation by calling us at (216) 373-7706 speaking with a Chat representative, or filling out our online contact form.