Tips and Tricks To Get Out Of Snapchat Extortion

• Social Networks

28.11.2024

If you think about one of the most popular social media platforms, Snapchat is one of those.

The platform lets users share photos and videos that just vanish in seconds. However, there is also a downside of the app, as people get blackmailed because of some compromising snaps.

These people threaten others to expose these snaps on different social media platforms if they do not pay them. So, what happens when someone is trying Snapchat extortion? What should you do as a user? Let’s explore.

Snapchat Extortion

Remember never to share any information from the account. This way, you will at least have the upper hand.

However, just having a social media presence can put you ar risk from scammers. They are just looking for opportunities to make money from anyone.

Sharing photos and explicit content on social media is what puts you at risk. Never give away any kind of details or photos about yourself.

Think of it like this. A cyber-criminal is from another country, trying to get your attention with some photos. They will continue to chat with you and always avoid talking over call.

They often claim that they are from your locality and your country. To confirm ask them about the locality, or some questions that people from your country would know.

If they cannot answer, just end the chat. They might have even looked up the common questions, but specific questions might get them confused.

The issue with this is if they get hold of any of your personal information, they will use it to blackmail you. It is a stressful situation for anyone going through extorsion.

Moreover, there are times when they just bluff you and have no information about you from them. They just use your sense of fear to get money. So, knowing how to report blackmail on Snapchat is also important.

Important Facts About Snapchat Blackmail

Snapchat blackmail is an online form of extortion. These people threaten the users to reveal some embarrassing or sensitive information, videos, or photos on Snapchat if they do not get them money, information, or anything else they are asking for. They use the sense of shame and fear to manipulate the victims, making them feel trapped.

Anyone can be targeted through these social media platforms, and on Snapchat as well. The teenage crowd is mostly in Snapchat, and they are the ones who are likely to fall into these traps. They target people who share their personal information, intimate videos, and photos online.

Moreover, there is a trend going on for online dating, and they target people looking for love online. Sextortion is also going on over social media platforms in all forms. And Snapchat is one of the most common apps for this kind of crime.

Because of the platform’s vanishing feature, messages, photos, and videos can be deleted right after it was sent. This gives victims the confidence to share some intimate content without the threat of anyone documenting it.

However, blackmailers are familiar with various third-party apps that help them take screenshots and record the screen even without them knowing. Sextortion affects people of all ages. However, they mainly aim for teens and children.

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children found out trends in cyber tipline sextortion reports.

The reports were checked from 2013, and it has grown every year from 90% to 150% by the first few months of 2016. In 2022, there were 32 million reports of child exploitation that NCMEC received.

How To Deal With Snapchat extortion

Well, if you are a victim of Snapchat extortion, here are a few things that you must try to deal with in the entire situation.

Don’t Panic

To begin with, do not get frazzled. Keep your cool and try not to panic. Know that you are not the only one to fall into their traps, and you can get out of it as well.

Think carefully about the options you have and the resources that are available to deal with the current situation.

Block & Report

Start with blocking the person on Snapchat. This way, they will not be able to send you snaps and have any kind of access to your account. Then, report their account on Snapchat.

Tap on their profile, click on the three dots that you will find in the upper right corner, and then select “Report.” This way, you will be able to protect others from these cyber criminals.

Never engage with the blackmailer

Never reply to someone or engage with them in any way who is trying to blackmail you. They will continue to ask for money and exploit you emotionally. They often pretend to be someone else, like a lawyer, to keep the pressure building.

If you absolutely have to communicate with them, then limit the responses as much as you can and maintain a firm tone. The best thing to do is keep the communication to a minimum and just talk about this to people you trust or just family members.

Lodge a complaint

Blackmailing has been affecting people from all over the world. So, when in trouble, reach out to the authorities and seek help. File a complaint with the local law enforcement agency, the state police, or the FBI.

Give them all the necessary evidence and details, including phone numbers, messages, and screenshots, and help them investigate the case. There is also an Internet Crime Complaint Centre by the FBI, and you can file a complaint there as well.

Protect yourself

In the digital age, everything seems to be a click away, and it is important that you protect all your personal information from those who will take undue advantage of that. Start with a strong password for your email accounts and social media.

You can also use the two-factor authentication, and that will add some extra security to the accounts. Moreover, always think before you add someone on Snapchat, and do not share excessive snaps with someone you don’t know personally or don’t trust.

How to report blackmail on Snapchat?

Reporting blackmail on the platform is very important to protect yourself and others from pryers on the platform. Snapchat has a built-in feature where you can report such incidents effectively.

There are different ways of reporting blackmail on the app itself. So, how to report blackmail on Snapchat?

Here is how you can do it.

Open the chat
Tap and hold on the name of the Snapchatter
Click on “Manage Friendship”
Choose “Report” and then choose the reason that you find fit
Support it with some additional details about the extortion situation and submit the report.

Stay Calm and help others

Snapchat extortion is scary. However, you have to stay calm if you are the one in trouble and seek help, or if someone you know has fallen into the trap, then help them out without panicking.

Remember not to panic, block and report the person, never engage with them, and lodge a complaint to get yourself out of the situation. These basic tips can help you deal with the situation and protect yourself from future threats.

Just be cautious of the risks around you and protect yourself from those. Never shy away from asking for help and discuss it with the cybercrime experts or the authorities. Stay safe.

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