Blackmail - serious question (1 Viewer)

[Mitchell0618]

Hello

This is a real situation happening to me, so please only; give sound advise

Someone is texting me, yes they got my cell #, and is threating to send embarrassing pictures to a list of my family contacts. They must have done a look-up on my phone. they originally wanted $5000 but I said I dont have that money and the best I have is $200. They are supposedly accepting that and they want it in a Apple Card. I was a bit freaked at first but as I think about it, besides the extreme embarrassment, do I really want to do this and how do i know they will go away. Also if I have their cell #. couldnt I go to the police as I am sure they have done this to others.

 

[3C's]

ignore

 

[Juxtatarot]

Do you have reason to believe they actually have these photos and your contact list?

 

[FiredMartz]

Hello

This is a real situation happening to me, so please only; give sound advise

Someone is texting me, yes they got my cell #, and is threating to send embarrassing pictures to a list of my family contacts. They must have done a look-up on my phone. they originally wanted $5000 but I said I dont have that money and the best I have is $200. They are supposedly accepting that and they want it in a Apple Card. I was a bit freaked at first but as I think about it, besides the extreme embarrassment, do I really want to do this and how do i know they will go away. Also if I have their cell #. couldnt I go to the police as I am sure they have done this to others.

What is embarrassing pictures?...please tell

 

[The Z Machine]

How many messages have you received from family and friends that had embarassing photos? Likely none.

They would need to prove they have this info before you even consider sending them any money.

Also this stuff makes me sick. Stupid internet.

 

[Mitchell0618]

they did send texts with some pictures and snaps of conversation we had. going to text me at 9:00am today to get the Apple card information. If they did send out, could I go to police with the texts threatening me and their cell #?

 

[The Z Machine]

they did send texts with some pictures and snaps of conversation we had. going to text me at 9:00am today to get the Apple card information. If they did send out, could I go to police with the texts threatening me and their cell #?

Yes, of course you can go to the police.

 

[offdee]

So basically you were on a dating site, gave her your cell number, she sent you racy pics/vids, then she asked you to send her some too and you complied. Or even better she called you and made up some excuse of a bad connection but somehow got you to do some nasty stuff anyways and screen recorded you. Then bam, she flips a switch and goes into blackmail mode and proves to you she has those vids/pics and how she’s in your Facebook with all your contacts.

Yeah, it’s a known scam. Just ignore it and they’ll eventually go away and onto the next victim. If you send them anything they’ll just continue asking for more.

Moving forward keep your D in your pants on pics and video.

 

[Mitchell0618]

Hello

This is a real situation happening to me, so please only; give sound advise

Someone is texting me, yes they got my cell #, and is threating to send embarrassing pictures to a list of my family contacts. They must have done a look-up on my phone. they originally wanted $5000 but I said I dont have that money and the best I have is $200. They are supposedly accepting that and they want it in a Apple Card. I was a bit freaked at first but as I think about it, besides the extreme embarrassment, do I really want to do this and how do i know they will go away. Also if I have their cell #. couldnt I go to the police as I am sure they have done this to others.

What is embarrassing pictures?...please tell

naked

 

[Mitchell0618]

Do you have reason to believe they actually have these photos and your contact list?

yes they texted them to me. I just find it odd they demanded $5000 to make this go away but would settle for $200

 

[Mitchell0618]

So basically you were on a dating site, gave her your cell number, she sent you racy pics/vids, then she asked you to send her some too and you complied. Or even better she called you and made up some excuse of a bad connection but somehow got you to do some nasty stuff anyways and screen recorded you. Then bam, she flips a switch and goes into blackmail mode and proves to you she has those vids/pics and how she’s in your Facebook with all your contacts.

Yeah, it’s a known scam. Just ignore it and they’ll eventually go away and onto the next victim. If you send them anything they’ll just continue asking for more.

Moving forward keep your D in your pants on pics and video.

It was a stupid thing. they gave me their cell # and I of course texted it. About an hour later, I got all the pics and threatening messages

 

[IvanKaramazov]

Do you have reason to believe they actually have these photos and your contact list?

yes they texted them to me. I just find it odd they demanded $5000 to make this go away but would settle for $200

Nobody has any sense of professionalism these days. When I was younger, blackmailers took a certain pride in their work.

 

[Mitchell0618]

I wish I could find humor in that

 

[offdee]

So basically you were on a dating site, gave her your cell number, she sent you racy pics/vids, then she asked you to send her some too and you complied. Or even better she called you and made up some excuse of a bad connection but somehow got you to do some nasty stuff anyways and screen recorded you. Then bam, she flips a switch and goes into blackmail mode and proves to you she has those vids/pics and how she’s in your Facebook with all your contacts.

Yeah, it’s a known scam. Just ignore it and they’ll eventually go away and onto the next victim. If you send them anything they’ll just continue asking for more.

Moving forward keep your D in your pants on pics and video.

It was a stupid thing. they gave me their cell # and I of course texted it. About an hour later, I got all the pics and threatening messages

You sent them the naked pics/vids or she screen recorded you doing it for her. It’s ok to admit.

 

[offdee]

Do you have reason to believe they actually have these photos and your contact list?

yes they texted them to me. I just find it odd they demanded $5000 to make this go away but would settle for $200

It’s part of the scam. Scare you with a big number then make you feel relief that you only have to now give the smaller number and you comply. But they now know your threshold amount and will keep asking for more. Just call there bluff and ignore.

 

[3C's]

ignore

 

[Mitchell0618]

i want to, i am just scared of the consequences. Do I call their bluff and say they can take their 1 shot and then I can go to police? or does that just make things worse?

 

[TennesseeJed]

If they get you for $200, they will come back for more.

At some point you will have to say no. Might as well be now. Deal with the consequences - those will pass.

 

[fruity pebbles]

i want to, i am just scared of the consequences. Do I call their bluff and say they can take their 1 shot and then I can go to police? or does that just make things worse?

They’re not going to care if you say you’re going to police. Probably in Nigeria, Jamaica etc. Should never have responded back. Stop responding, block, ignore.

 

[Mitchell0618]

they are supposed to text at 9:00am today. I just want it to go away, learned a bitter lesson

 

[offdee]

i want to, i am just scared of the consequences. Do I call their bluff and say they can take their 1 shot and then I can go to police? or does that just make things worse?

They’re not going to care if you say you’re going to police. Probably in Nigeria, Jamaica etc. Should never have responded back. Stop responding, block, ignore.

This.

 

[TLEF316]

i want to, i am just scared of the consequences. Do I call their bluff and say they can take their 1 shot and then I can go to police? or does that just make things worse?

They’re not going to care if you say you’re going to police. Probably in Nigeria, Jamaica etc. Should never have responded back. Stop responding, block, ignore.

Yup. This. They're somewhere where you can't get them in trouble and if you pay, they'll just keep demanding more.

Awful situation but you're likely screwed here.

 

[Mitchie]

just post the pics on your facebook page, then screenshot and send to them, tell them everyone's already seen the pics.

 

[offdee]

they are supposed to text at 9:00am today. I just want it to go away, learned a bitter lesson

What was the lesson…to not text a girls number? Lol. The lesson is to not send D pics and vids to anybody which is what you did. Luckily if you just ignore it will go away. They probably have 20 other active blackmails going on at the same time as yours.

 

[NewlyRetired]

I understand the scam up until the part where they have the contact information of family and friends. How does the scam get the contact information from the texts?

 

[Mitchell0618]

I guess from having my cell #, i am not sure. I never sent anything else

 

[offdee]

I guess from having my cell #, i am not sure. I never sent anything else

I don’t believe you.

 

[offdee]

I understand the scam up until the part where they have the contact information of family and friends. How does the scam get the contact information from the texts?

They tie your phone number to your Facebook account and show you your contacts list from FB.

But they don’t just go into your phone to search through all your camera roll to find D pics. He sent them to her/him and that’s when the blackmail and scare tactics started.

 

[GroveDiesel]

DO NOT PAY! They will just keep asking for more and keep threatening you.

If they start sending them to people you know, you have 2 choices:

1. Tell people that you thought you were involved in an online relationship and got taken advantage of and that these people are predators who abused your trust and vulnerability. You can also choose to preemptively message your friends and family and let them know someone is threatening you and that they shouldn’t open any messages that reportedly contain info/photos related to you

2. If they send them out, just tell everyone that the photos are faked with AI and that you are a victim of an extortion scam.

This is becoming extremely prevalent. You are most certainly not alone in falling for this (I know of several young people that have).

Don’t be surprised if they do in fact send the photos though. One of the young guys I know that fell for it ignored it and the scammer did in fact send the photos to his Instagram contacts. What sucked on that one is that the kid was just 18 and a bunch of his friends were under 18. So the scammer was sending nude photos of this dude to minors and even photoshopped in some other people into a collage making it seem like it was somehow approved by these people (all associated with our church’s youth group).

Not saying that to scare you, but these folks operate on embarrassment and victimizing people. You’re better off sucking up the temporary embarrassment and getting ahead of it.

 

[Mitchell0618]

I guess from having my cell #, i am not sure. I never sent anything else

I don’t believe you.

I have nothing to lie about. they gave me their cell # and I texted it

 

[Mitchell0618]

i will know more in about an hour

 

[Ron Swanson]

I guess from having my cell #, i am not sure. I never sent anything else

I don’t believe you.

I think he's referring to NewlyRetired's question about how they have contact info. The answer is they don't, that's the bluff part.

 

[offdee]

I guess from having my cell #, i am not sure. I never sent anything else

I don’t believe you.

I have nothing to lie about. they gave me their cell # and I texted it

You don’t get access to your camera roll simply by having your cell #. You sent them the pics they are trying to blackmail you with.

 

[Ron Swanson]

@mkripke They've only proven to you they have the pics and /or video and your cellphone number. You sent those to them They haven't proven to you they have your other contacts to send them to. That's the bluff part. It isn't some elaborate hack.

 

[offdee]

I guess from having my cell #, i am not sure. I never sent anything else

I don’t believe you.

I think he's referring to NewlyRetired's question about how they have contact info. The answer is they don't, that's the bluff part.

Your phone number is tied to social media accounts (Facebook). They go there to find your friends lists and show you pics/vids proving they can send stuff to them through Facebook.

 

[Mitchell0618]

they have the contact list with names and ages of the people. Also pulled my address from a relator site i assume, but i dont think they would come to my house (I assume they are close to me) just mail stuff

 

[Mitchell0618]

I dint think it was FB. On the list are my parents, who are deceased and long before FB, names i dont recognize, people on my wifes side of the family that i am not friends with.

 

[offdee]

i will know more in about an hour

lol you’re not gonna know anything more. They are gonna text asking you to send the card.

There is zero upside to you even seeing this message or interacting with it. Just block that number now and move on with life. The more you interact the more they know you’re scared. Acting like you don’t give a F is the quickest way to end it and they move on to the next sucker.

Block the number now.

 

[bcat01]

I would tell them I have turned their information over to the police and will not be interacting with them anymore. Done.

 

[FiredMartz]

they have the contact list with names and ages of the people. Also pulled my address from a relator site i assume, but i dont think they would come to my house (I assume they are close to me) just mail stuff

do you live in Nigeria?

 

[Oracle]

I dint think it was FB. On the list are my parents, who are deceased and long before FB, names i dont recognize, people on my wifes side of the family that i am not friends with.

You’re married?

How will this impact your relationship with your wife?

 

[belljr]

Good thing its not whitemail

 

[Max Power]

Already solid advice given. Don't pay. This is a scam to them and will never stop if you pay them one time. They have other fish on the hook that also need attention.

Embrace it and call the bluff. Your family and friends will understand if it does happen. Don't be so hard on yourself and consider it a learning lesson for yourself and those around you.

Side note, I'm deathly afraid of this happening to my teenage daughter. We've had MULTIPLE conversations on the dangers of sending online photos and she is trending in the wrong direction on that front. Sadly she is a kid who has to learn through experience and I'm just "old".

 

[offdee]

I would tell them I have turned their information over to the police and will not be interacting with them anymore. Done.

No don’t do this, no reason to make them prove they know they can’t get caught. The number they are using is likely some untraceable burner phone number.

Just block the number and no further communication.

 

[Juxtatarot]

The police likely won’t do anything other than take a report.

 

[Mitchell0618]

thank you all for your advise

 

[Zow]

I see @offdee has this handled.

My only two cents is that it may be worth making a report to law enforcement. They almost certainly cannot do anything, but at least it's then documented for the rare chance the blackmailer is local.

 

[FiredMartz]

Good luck.....hope you fluffed up before said photos

 

[offdee]

You’re married?

How will this impact your relationship with your wife?

This is likely why he’s freaking out more than his plumber seeing his wang.

He sent D pics to some random person (who he thought was a hot chick)

 

[GroveDiesel]

I see @offdee has this handled.

My only two cents is that it may be worth making a report to law enforcement. They almost certainly cannot do anything, but at least it's then documented for the rare chance the blackmailer is local.

They’re almost certainly overseas. Though there have been a few cases of people in the US being behind it and getting caught eventually. So reporting to police could potentially save someone else down the line. But even if they’re in the US, it’s very doubtful that they are local.