Do Blackmailers Follow Through? (And What to Expect)

Are you being blackmailed online? Are blackmailers threatening to expose you through Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn? If so, you've come to the right place.

You may Contact me here using the contact form now, or keep reading to learn how I can help.

IMPORTANT: If you paid the scammers anything at all, they will simply turn around and ask for more. This is how this scam goes 100% of the time. Don't be fooled into thinking a one-time payment will be the end - IT NEVER IS!

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In this article, you will find answers to the following questions:

• Do blackmailers follow through?
   
• Do blackmailers go away?
   
• Do blackmailers ever stop?
   
• Do blackmailers bluff?
   
• Should I Pay the Blackmailers (and What Happens if I don't Pay)?

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Infopackets Reader Bill W. writes:

" Dear Dennis,

Thanks so much for your article on 'Being Blackmailed for Money on Facebook.' I also read your article on Instagram blackmail.

Unfortunately, I have a similar situation. A few weeks ago, I received a random chat request from a female with a Whatsapp business account asking if I was affiliated with her company. She claims to work in the shipping department. I responded back stating she had the number, but that didn't stop her from repeatedly messaging me.

As time went on, we exchanged some photos of each other (clothed). She asked where I worked, what kind of car I drive, etc. Eventually I let down my guard and I fired off a picture of my privates (per her request), but I made sure not to include my face.

Flash forward to this week and she's asked me for money because her car broke down and needs to be fixed. I politely refused. She got all bent out of shape and is promising to contact my wife, my workplace, and post my pictures all over social media. She's already downloaded all of my Facebook contacts.

I now realize this is a WhatsApp wrong number scam turned Facebook blackmail. My question is: do blackmailers follow through? She's made a collage out of the photos I sent and says if I don't pay in the next 3 days she's going to follow through with the threats. I've searched all over the Internet for 'do blackmailers follow through' and 'what to do if you're being blackmailed', etc, but can't seem to find a definitive answer and thought I would ask you, since you specialize in this cyber extortion. Do you have any advice? "

Related:

• Being Blackmailed for Money on Facebook? Here's What to Do
   
• How Long Does Blackmail Last?

My response:

What you're referring to is Whatsapp blackmail. Quite often the scammers try to get you to invest in bitcoin. This is called a bitcoin investment scam, but it almost always leads to Facebook blackmail or Instagram blackmail.

Before I get into explaining this, let me introduce myself. My name is Dennis Faas and I run this site, and I've been online for 21 years helping people with technology-related issues. Friends call me by my first name - but clients call me the Blackmail Savior - and for good reason: I have all the answers. And, as someone that has specialized in cyber crimes since 2014, the question "Do blackmailers follow through?" is asked on a daily basis.

The short-but-sweet answer is: yes, blackmailers do follow through, but some don't and it largely depends on your circumstances.

Allow me to explain.

Do Blackmailers Follow Through?

Take the following into consideration:

• Online blackmail is an organized crime (almost always).
   
• The blackmailers are anonymous, though I've heard from many clients that the Philippine scammers will show their face if you are brave enough to answer a video call with them. Nonetheless, they are practically anonymous.
   
• The scammers work in groups (almost always).
   
• The scammers are usually overseas.*
   
• The scammers will do anything to get your money.

* = True 99% of the time based on all the cases I've worked on (over 750+), and all the phone calls I've taken (over 2,000+). The blackmailers are located in scammer-infested countries such as: Africa, Philippines, Morocco, and India. How do I know? Because that's where the money goes.

With that said:

1. If you paid the scammers anything, you have officially opened the doorway to hell. They know you're scared and will keep on asking for more. Blackmail is double-edged sword: if you don't pay them, they might expose you - but, if you pay them anything, they'll never stop asking for more.
   
   Want to make blackmail go away in as little as 3 days? Contact me now and get started ASAP. My plan only takes 2 hours the first day to start, and 1 hour a day for up to 3 days. It's designed for people that are actively going through blackmail right now.
    
2. Because the blackmailers work in groups, your name will be passed along within the group. If you paid a scammer with promises that this will "buy yourself time" - THINK AGAIN - because another blackmail scammer might contact you in the next few hours (or days) demanding more money.
   
   Do not think for a moment that they will honor any previous agreements, even if you paid a large sum. The entire circumstance was a lie from the get-go.
    
3. You have a 50-50 chance of being exposed as each day passes - however - you are likely be dealing with a new scammer each day.
   
   In other words: if they didn't expose you on day 1 and 2, it doesn't mean day 3 and 4 will be a cake walk because you might be dealing with a seasoned pro on those days that will force the money out of you. Don't like those odds? Contact me now.

Do Blackmailers Go Away?

Yes, eventually the blackmail scammers will go away at some point - but not before potentially exposing you.

Generally speaking, the risk of your exposure increases each day that passes - especially in the beginning. If you don't comply with their continued requests for money, the risk of your exposure also increases because they will only wait for so long to get paid. It also depends on which gang of cyber criminals you're dealing with, because the this scam is multinational and different groups of cyber criminals deal with it differently.

Don't want to take that risk? Need a solid plan and advice to get you out of this mess and contingency plans if you are exposed? Contact me now.

Related: Can a blackmail lawyer help?

Do Blackmailers Ever Stop?

Yes, the scammers will eventually stop harassing you at some point - but with caveats.

In this situation, one of two things will happen: they will either go away on their own and not expose you, or they will go away after they expose you. That said, some scammers may come back at a later time, though this is rare. The circumstances largely depend on how much you paid, what is at risk, what information they have on you, etc.

Related: Can blackmail ruin your life?

Speaking from experience: one of my clients signed up for a hookup website while his wife was out of country. Regrettably, the scammers found his wife's Facebook account online and demanded $2500 for their silence. He paid it, only to find out they wanted another $2500. He paid that, too. That's when the client reached out to me for help. We put a plan together to significantly reduce his exposure, plus a contingency to explain things to his wife in favorable terms. Using various stall tactics and strategies, the scammers eventually lost interest and went away on their own.

Unfortunately, the scammers came back 8 months later and the threats started right back up. The client chose to ignored them, and that's when they contacted his wife. The client reached out to me again for advice. Through phone consultation, we were able to come up with yet another contingency plan to explain the situation to his wife.

Related: What can the police do about blackmail?

Do Blackmailers Bluff?

Some scammers bluff that they will expose you, while some follow through with their threats.

With each day that passes, your risk of exposure will increase because the scammers will only wait so long for you to pay them. You won't know if you will be exposed until it happens. That said, the majority of what the scammers do is preventable using my plan - contact me here if interested. My estimated success rate is 98%.

Should I Pay the Blackmailers (and What Happens if I don't Pay)?

I get asked this question almost every day.

You should not pay the blackmailers anything at all - but that's easier said than done because blackmailers are extremely aggressive. The best advice here is to delay them as best you can, while you come up with a game plan. If you want professional paid support, feel free to contact me. I specialize in how to fight blackmail, including Facebook blackmail and Instagram blackmail. I have lots of strategies, contingencies and excuses because I've gone through it 750+ times with clients.

The other question I receive from potential clients is: What happens if I don't pay?

Here are some not-so-nice examples of what happens if you don't pay the blackmailers based on cases I've worked on in the past:

1. Most of the time they will reach out to family and friends through social media directly using instant messaging. This threat is pretty much universal. When the blackmailers threaten you, it's usually with pictures of people you know on social media, or a list of names.
   
   Sometimes the blackmailers will upload your video to third party website (YouTube, nudie site, etc) and tag you in the video on someone else's social media page. Speaking from experience: Youtube doesn't filter your junk automatically. I know, because I've taken down client videos originating from Youtube.
   
   Don't want this to happen to you? Contact me now and make this horrible experience go away in as little as 3 days using my plan.
    
2. If you are married or are dating, your significant other is prime target #1. This is pretty much universal. In this case, the scammers may call or text her phone number directly, or reach out to her on social media.
   
   In one case I worked on, a Police officer fell for this scam on Facebook. He reached out to me and together we devised a way to limit his exposure and (per his request) have a way to explain this to his wife AND kids - should he need to. The result: he profusely thanked me for my service.
    
3. The cyber blackmail criminals will also post your pictures or videos at work, especially if your workplace is tied to social media.
   
   In one case I worked on, the victim was fired from his job because they uploaded his video to a third-party site, then tagged him in it at work. I have proof that this happened and if you contact me, I will share it with you (with information redacted, of course).
   
   Not sure how to deal with the potential fallout of being exposed at work or at school? I've already got this figured out using my plan. Contact me now.
    
4. They will upload your video to YouTube and other nudie sites, and then share it on social media.
   
   In one case I worked on, this happened to a professional boxer in the UK. Not only did they follow through with this threat, but they also contacted his promoter and his trainer with the video. I can't make this stuff up. The good news is that the client was able to track the scammer's IP address using my plan. He then hired an international lawyer to prosecute the scammer.
    
5. They will threaten to contact your workplace or contact your employer / co-workers.
   
   In one case I work on, the scammers constantly called the client's workplace non-stop at all hours of the day (during work hours) whenever the client stopped responding to the scammers text messages and demands.
    
6. They will contact your relatives in your city based on a reverse lookup on your phone number.
   
   In one case I worked on, the client paid the scammers $1800, then demanded more. The client responded by telling the scammers he only gets paid once every 30 days. They contacted him again 30 days later - but this time he didn't respond. The scammers then text messaged everyone in his city with his last name (based on the reverse phone number lookup) and exposed him that way.

Blackmail: What To Do (And What Not To Do)

Not sure what to do? Want some more free advice?

Read my article entitled "Blackmail - What To Do (And What Not To Do)".

Want to make this problem go away in as little as 3 days? Contact me and I'll get back to you as soon as possible. The service I provide is paid support.

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About the author: Dennis Faas is the CEO and owner of Infopackets.com. Since 2001, Dennis has dedicated his entire professional career helping others with technology-related issues with his unique style of writing in the form of questions-and-answers; click here to read all 2,000+ of Dennis' articles online this site. In 2014, Dennis shifted his focus to cyber crime mitigation, including technical support fraud and in 2019, online blackmail. Dennis has received many accolades during his tenure: click here to view Dennis' credentials online DennisFaas.com; click here to see Dennis' Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science (1999); click here to read an article written about Dennis by Alan Gardyne of Associate Programs (2003). And finally, click here to view a recommendation for Dennis' services from the University of Florida (dated 2006).