Should You Block a Blackmailer?

If you’re currently being blackmailed, you may be feeling overwhelmed and unsure of what to do next. Blocking the blackmailer might seem like a good option, but you may have concerns about whether it will make the situation worse.

Should You Block a Blackmailer?

Yes, you should absolutely block your blackmailer on all communication channels as soon as possible. Blocking shows you won’t tolerate their abusive behavior. It prevents them from sending further threats and often leads to them moving on.

However, blocking alone may not end the situation. You should also report the blackmail, preserve evidence, adjust privacy settings, and seek support. Experienced attorneys can help you navigate the legal process to fully stop the perpetrator.

What is Blackmail and Sextortion?

Blackmail is a type of extortion where someone threatens to reveal embarrassing or damaging information about you unless you meet their demands, typically for money. Sextortion is a specific type of blackmail involving threats to expose sexual content, such as nude photos or videos.

These crimes are shockingly common in the digital age. Perpetrators use the anonymity of the internet to build trust with victims, obtain sensitive content, and then use it as leverage. Victims span all genders, ages, and walks of life.

No matter how it starts, blackmail is illegal. It’s a felony offense under state and federal laws. You have done nothing wrong and do not deserve to be victimized this way. There is hope and help available.

Why Do Blackmailers Rarely Follow Through on Threats?

One small comfort is that most blackmailers don’t actually want to follow through on their threats to expose you. They use the mere threat of exposure to extract as much money as possible. Once they post the content, they lose all leverage.

Blackmail is essentially an empty threat business model. These criminals survive by tricking enough victims to pay up, with no intention of going through the effort, and risk, of leaking the info. They aim for easy money, not reputation ruination.

This low follow-through rate doesn’t make the threats any less terrifying. But it does mean that cutting off a blackmailer’s access to you is often enough to stop the cycle for good. Let’s look at why blocking them helps.

Should You Block a Blackmailer?

Yes, you should absolutely block your blackmailer as quickly as possible. Here’s why blocking works:

1. It prevents them from sending you more threats and demands. The less you see their messages, the less panicked you’ll feel.
2. It communicates that you won’t tolerate their abuse. You may not be able to control whether they ultimately share your content, but you can control your response. Blocking tells them you refuse to engage or comply.
3. With no way to contact you, many blackmailers will simply move on to an easier target. They rely on your fear to make money. Take away their ability to profit from you and you become more effort than it’s worth.
4. It allows you to take back some control. Blackmail often leaves victims feeling powerless. Blocking is an active way to stand up to your perpetrator. That agency is important for your mental health.
5. It buys you time to collect evidence and get help. When you’re not seeing a barrage of threats, you can think more clearly about next steps like making a report and seeking legal guidance.

Blocking may feel like a big, nerve-wracking step. You may worry it will anger the blackmailer and make things worse. In reality, continuing to engage with them and complying with demands is what gives them power. Blocking says “no more.”

How to Safely Block a Blackmailer

Blocking a blackmailer requires a strategic approach to protect your privacy and preserve evidence for legal purposes. Here’s how to do it safely:

1. Preserve evidence: Screenshot all correspondence with the blackmailer, including threats and demands for money. Save copies of any images or videos they claim to have. Note dates, times, methods of contact, and payment amounts. Having records strengthens the legal case against them.
2. Block on all channels: Block the blackmailer on all email accounts, phone numbers, social media profiles, and any other way they contact you. Consider temporarily deactivating accounts they accessed to prevent them from stealing more info.
3. Resist the urge to engage: Don’t send any “final messages” telling the blackmailer off or threatening them back. Keep all communication clinical and minimal, if any. Remember, blackmail often fizzles out when the perpetrator realizes they’ve lost access to you.
4. Alert allies: Consider warning friends and family that you’ve been hacked by someone threatening to share intimate content. This way, loved ones won’t be caught off-guard if the blackmailer contacts them, and can report any suspicious messages. You can also ask them to help monitor if your content shows up online.

Remember, block but don’t delete. You may need records of the threats and demands to build a strong legal case. Once you’ve safely severed the blackmailer’s direct line to you, you can focus on reinforcing your security and getting help.

What Are the Risks of Blocking a Blackmailer?

“If I block my blackmailer, will it make things worse?” This is a common fear for blackmail victims considering cutting off their perpetrator. It’s natural to worry about retaliation, but in most cases, blocking does far more good than harm.

Possibilities vs. Probabilities

When assessing the risks of blocking, it’s important to distinguish between what’s possible and what’s probable based on blackmailer behavior.

While blocking may anger the blackmailer and lead them to create new accounts or use different phone numbers and emails to continue contacting you, these worst-case scenarios are less common. Most blackmailers rely on fear to keep victims compliant rather than carrying out threats. With persistence and diligence in blocking all new contact attempts, many victims find that the harassment eventually subsides.

Based on our extensive experience helping blackmail victims, the more probable outcome of blocking is that the blackmailer realizes they’ve lost leverage. With no way to contact you and no response to their demands, harassing you becomes more effort than it’s worth. As a result, they’re likely to move on to a new target.

Although there’s a small chance of escalation, it’s essential to follow safe blocking protocols and work with an attorney experienced in handling blackmail. For most victims we’ve supported, diligent blocking has been a key step in ending the harassment for good.

What Should You Do After Blocking a Blackmailer?

Blocking is just the first step in fully resolving a blackmail situation. Here’s what to do next to protect yourself and hold your blackmailer accountable:

• Report to authorities: File a report with your local police and the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center. Provide them with all the evidence you’ve collected. Law enforcement can open an investigation and help identify the perpetrator.
• Alert online platforms: Report the blackmailer’s accounts and any threatening messages to the relevant social media, email, and tech companies. They can shut down the blackmailer’s profiles for violating their terms of service, limiting their ability to harass others.
• Lock down your privacy: In addition to securing your accounts, review your social media privacy settings. Make profiles private, hide friends lists, and limit who can find you. Remove any personal details like phone numbers and addresses. Opt out of data broker sites that sell your info.
• Seek legal guidance: Work with an attorney experienced in internet blackmail and sextortion. They can help you navigate the reporting and investigation processes, communicate with law enforcement, get abusive content removed, and explore civil legal action against your blackmailer.
• Prioritize your mental health: Blackmail is an extremely violating and frightening experience. You may feel traumatized, ashamed, angry, or hopeless, among other difficult emotions. Consider working with a therapist who can help you process the experience in a healthy way. Victim advocacy groups can also provide support.

Taking these proactive steps, with guidance from legal experts, can stop your blackmailer in their tracks and give you a greater sense of safety. The sooner you take action, the better your chances of preventing your content from spreading and mitigating the risks.

Taking Control and Getting Help

Being blackmailed can leave you feeling trapped and powerless, but it’s important to remember that you have options and support available. While blocking the blackmailer is a crucial first step, it’s only the beginning of the process of taking back control and ensuring your safety.

At Minc Law, we understand the complex challenges that blackmail victims face, and we’re here to help you navigate this difficult situation with confidence and clarity. Our experienced attorneys have helped countless individuals just like you put a stop to blackmail and sextortion, and we’re ready to listen to your story without judgment.

When you work with Minc Law, you’ll have a dedicated legal team on your side, fighting tirelessly to protect your rights and hold your blackmailer accountable. We’ll guide you through the process of reporting the crime to the appropriate authorities, preserving critical evidence, and securing your online presence to prevent future attacks.

Don’t let fear or shame keep you from seeking the help you deserve. Contact Minc Law today to schedule a confidential consultation with one of our attorneys. Together, we’ll develop a customized strategy to put an end to the blackmail, protect your reputation, and help you reclaim your peace of mind.