How to Deal With Facebook Sextortion

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Introduction

Is someone on Facebook holding your intimate content for ransom? Keep watching if you want to learn what to do if a stranger is threatening to release it publicly unless you pay them.

Hi, I’m Alex Turi, a paralegal here at Minc Law, the nation’s leading law firm when it comes to combating sextortion.

Facebook has become a hotspot for sextortion, and it can be extremely distressing. It can be dangerous to your reputation and your mental health. But it’s going to be okay. There’s always a way to get through it, and in this video, I’ll show you how.

I’ll walk you through immediate steps you can take if you’re facing threats after sharing intimate media with a stranger from Facebook. You’ll also learn what constitutes Facebook sextortion and how to report sextortion to Facebook and other important agencies.

What is Facebook Sextortion?

Facebook is a common platform that sextortionists use to target their victims. It’s an easy place to find out a lot of crucial information about you.

How Sextortion Begins

Sextortion often begins with a stranger initiating a friend request or direct message. After engaging in flirty, casual conversations and gaining the victim’s trust, perpetrators typically encourage victims to continue their conversation on a different platform, such as WhatsApp or Skype, where things take a sexual turn.

Once you’ve sent intimate pictures or videos, the sextortionist then threatens to share the content with your friends and family on Facebook, post them in a YouTube video, or publish them elsewhere online unless you pay them money.

Immediate Steps to Take

In the face of sextortion, keep calm and remember that many people have faced this threat and made it to the other side—and you will too.

Stop Responding to the Perpetrator

While it may seem like your only option is to pay the ransom, it’s not. You need to stop responding to them. They may try to pressure you from multiple angles, but it is crucial not to engage as this will only escalate the situation.

Preserve Evidence

Do not block them or delete any messages. We need to collect evidence first. Keep all communications, including emails, messages, screenshots, and other relevant information such as their Facebook profile and URL. Take screenshots of your conversations to report the sextortion to Facebook and other online platforms. This evidence may also be used for any legal action later.

Block and Restrict Social Media Accounts

After preserving evidence, block all email addresses, phone numbers, and social media accounts the perpetrators have used to contact you. Continue blocking and ignoring any new attempts to reach you.

Social Media Safety

Immediately restrict your social media accounts as much as you’re comfortable with. Consider deactivating them if necessary. Make sure your friends and followers lists are not publicly visible. Disable the ability for strangers to tag, add, or message you.

Reporting Sextortion to Facebook

Next, report the incident to Facebook for violating its community standards. Facebook takes sextortion seriously and has a dedicated page for reporting it.

How to Report the Incident

1. Go to the profile you want to report by clicking on its name in your feed or searching for it.
2. Click on the three-dot menu for more options.
3. Select Find support or report.
4. Choose the option that best describes how this profile violates Facebook’s community standards (sextortion would fall under sexual exploitation).

Depending on your feedback, you may be able to submit a report to Meta.

Reporting to Law Enforcement

In addition to reporting the incident to Facebook, you can also report it to law enforcement agencies. There are local, federal, and international agencies that handle sextortion.

FBI Internet Crime Center (IC3)

For example, the FBI has an Internet Crime Center (IC3) dedicated to tracking suspected online criminal activity. Filing a complaint is straightforward and can be done at IC3.gov.

Legal Assistance and Next Steps

An experienced internet defamation and sextortion attorney can help you:

• Preserve evidence
• Send a cease and desist letter to the perpetrator
• Report harassment
• Remove intimate content from the internet

Attorney Support for Sextortion Cases

If the sextortionist follows through on their threats, an attorney can provide nonjudgmental support and practical guidance. You are protected by attorney-client privilege, so all conversations are confidential. This allows you to speak openly about what happened.

You can locate an attorney through your local bar association or state attorney referral service, or search for attorneys who specialize in sextortion online.

Long-Term Strategies for Protection

Avoid Engaging with the Perpetrator

It’s important to act quickly, but there’s no need to panic. Resist the temptation to unblock the perpetrator or check on them via social media. Doing so only subjects you to more pressure and harassment.

Set Up Google Alerts

Instead, set up a Google Alert to receive notifications of any new information published about you. Consider employing a professional Digital Risk Protection service to monitor the internet for you.

Online Reputation Management

If you’re concerned about damaging content appearing in search results, consider using reputation management services to reshape how you appear when someone Googles you. These services use digital marketing, PR, and SEO strategies to amplify positive content and diminish the impact of harmful materials in search results.

Emotional and Mental Health Support

The mental and emotional impact of sextortion can be overwhelming. We recommend seeking support to confront the fear, anxiety, and shame that may arise from this experience.

Build a Support Network

Establishing a strong support network of friends, family, and emergency resources is essential for emotional and practical assistance. If needed, find a mental health professional to help navigate distress and depression. Prioritizing your mental well-being is an important part of healing and rebuilding after trauma.

Conclusion

Dealing with Facebook sextortion is stressful, but you don’t have to face it alone. We have helped countless sextortion victims navigate this sensitive situation and come out on the other side with peace of mind.

If you’re struggling with sextortion, reach out to us by calling us or filling out an online contact form on our website.

Thank you for watching. This is Alex Turi from Minc Law reminding you that your online safety matters. We’ll see you in the next video.

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