Friend Being Blackmailed What Advice Would You Give

[Nyboy]

Warning adult topic, Don't read if it makes you uncomfortable. I have a friend he is 29 years old lives pay check to pay check, has deep depression and is very shy with woman. His last girlfriend was a couple of years ago. I am not sure of the right terms for computer. He went on a dating app met a so called woman. She talked him into going to another app. They where flirting back and fourth. She manged to talk him in to sending naked photos. When he sent several naked photos that showed his face everything changed. While flirting the person went into his facebook account and made a copy of all his facebbook friends. Now they are demanding $200 or they send photos to every facebook friend he has. I told him don't send money a blackmailer would keep milking him for more money. The blackmailer is claiming if he gets the money will delete photos live on camera. I would not believe anything someone who is trying to blackmail says. To me nudity means nothing, I would be more worried about looking fat. He is very shy and is terrified of photos getting out. He even mentioned suicide over this. All night the person as been sending emails not to dare him about making photos public. I told friend not to worry, its not like he is famous when the BM realizes he not getting money he move on to next victim. What advice would you give if this was your family or friend ? I once had someone online try and blackmail me, they threaten to tell my family and clients I was gay. I told them they where beating a dead horse.

 

[flowerbug]

have them talk to police. but yeah, basically, ignore all contacts and delete if you are not going to prosecute.

hope he learned his lesson...

 

[aftermidnight]

REPORT TO POLICE AT ONCE, I'd say don't answer and delete all emails but before that ask police for advice on what to do. Regardless of what happens put it down to lesson learned and move forward, it will die down eventually but in the meantime give your friend all the support you can, he needs people around him that care. I'm afraid we live among some sick, sleezy %$#*&^ people.

Annette

 

[Nyboy]

He is way to embarrassed to go to police. I keep checking in on him. Hopefully when BM sees he not getting money will move on.

 

[canesisters]

If he won't go to the police, will he contact FB and have his profile deleted?
Maybe send a private message to his entire friend list saying that he's been hacked and some sicko is threatening to send photo-shopped pictures of THEIR body with HIS head to them all....

 

[Nyboy]

I am about to give up, he is trying to bargain on price. Sure black mailers are known for keeping their word

 

[digitS']

photo-shopped pictures of THEIR body with HIS head

That is sure possible.

Your friend is learning the problems that self-indulgence and a little too much testosterone can get him into. It seems "self-indulgent" to me that he might think that he can fix this as an independent player. Next, he will be arranging for a meeting at his bank's ATM machine sometime, after dark ...

By the way, this is NOT new. Going on long before the internet. I have to wonder what percent of lawyers' income can be accounted for because of this sort of thing.

Steve

 

[seedcorn]

Tell him to deal with it now or when he is broke. He will deal with it. Friends will harass him. People that aren’t friends-who cares what they think?

 

[Smart Red]

Go to the police. That's the best advice I can give him -- unless he's a big-wig in the community where the FBI might be a better choice. Law enforecment are trained in this type of crime -- and it IS A CRIME -- while protecting the victim and his rights.

If he's uncomfortable, would he allow you to take the issue to the police without giving his name until some questions have been answered? Yes, I realize the, "my friend has this problem" is a cliche, but it may relieve some of his feelings of embarrassment. Never, never consider paying off the blackmailer. BAD IDEA from start to finish. . . and once paying is started it may never have a finish.

I am a person well-known for sticking my nose into possible problems of those I care for. Gotten me in a bit of trouble from time to time, but where friend or family is involved I'm likely to speak up if I think it will help and I've never regretted my actions. You might consider taking the situation to the police without his permission just to find out what could be done. Not with names right away, but information gathering is not a bad thing. Give your friend our love.

 

[aftermidnight]

Well Alex, you tried. As horrible as this is, if he's not willing to get help, it is what it is. The thing is as long as these sleezies get away with this kind of thing it's going to keep happening. He's going to keep paying through the nose until he can pay no more... and then they will post the pictures anyway.
@Smart Red has it right , she sounds a lot like me .

Annette