My son has just told me someone is trying to blackmail him online...

dowzer

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21 yr old has just in last 10 minutes told me that he 'performed an act' online a short while ago to what he thought was a girl but now appears to have been a hoax and the person is demanding £20 not to post the video online. He has seen a pic of the vid and his face can be seen and the other person has posted a list of his friends/family from facebook who he will post the vid to if he doesnt pay up. He is mortified needless to say. He has rang the police but anyone have any practical advice? Anyway to trace this person/their ip address etc?
 
Get him to report it to Skype if he hasn't already done so.
They will be able to investigate & report any relevant IP address etc to the police.
 
Does he have any proof of the blackmail?
 
demanding £20 not to post the video online.
has posted a list of his friends/family from facebook who he will post the vid to if he doesnt pay up.
He has rang the police

Is this person known to your Son?

What did the police say?
 
Just the transcript on screen from skype. I have read it - they have posted 2 separate lists from his facebook family/friends. They also posted a pic of him with his girlfriend ( although they are on a break atm)
 
A total stranger - waiting for police to call at our house.
 
Well print off a copy for safe keeping. How did he "meet" this person? Chat room? Forum? How long ago?
 
Met on chatroom tonight and exchanged skype usernames. Began skype call with girl (obviously fake video call) who then recorded the video and demanded money or they would publish video. They sent a list of his facebook friends threatening to send the video to them if he did not not send money. He has took screen shots of skype conversation. He has deactivated facebook account, should he block and report the skype user asap or wait until police arrive?
 
£20 seems awfully low if your going full hog to blackmail someone.

Tough one all round - he's obviously done something online or he wouldn't tell you(i'm not judging or anything here!)

I'd be tempted to report what you can to the police, Skype etc - and leave it at that. Change skype passwords/usernames. Also lock down facebook privacy etc as best you can.
 
They first of all wanted £700. It was an explicit video exchange. Police are coming to the house tonight. Facebook account is deactivated but he does not know whether to block the user now or wait until the police speak with him?
 
They first of all wanted £700. It was an explicit video exchange. Police are coming to the house tonight. Facebook account is deactivated but he does not know whether to block the user now or wait until the police speak with him?
Do as little as possible. If they are gonna investigate it (unlikely) they will want the device he made the call on. (Hope he's got nothing dodgy on it!)
 
£20 seems awfully low if your going full hog to blackmail someone.
True, but there's also no reason for them to stop after you pay the £20 either.
It's not like OP's son can force them to delete the video after paying the £20.

Likely scenario after paying £20 will be they'll continue to ask for more money. Paying the initial £20 just confirms to them that they've got you on the hook.

The police should investigate it as it should fall under the new 'Revenge porn' offence ie posting/blackmailing explicit videos/photos without the other persons consent.
 
My mate apparently had something similar happen to him. What appeared to be a women had him act in a sexual way and it turned out to be a transsexual. He recorded it and threatened him and demanded £200. My mate simply said he traced his I.P address and contacted local authorities that he was being blackmailed. He never heard anything back and video was leaked. All this happened over skype so may be worth trying the same.

Just contact them and say the same that the I.p has been traced and you have been reported to local authority.
 
The only advice I have to offer is not to pay the money. They will be back for more. Keep in contact with the police and hopefully they will help. Good luck to your son. I know it's hard but he shouldn't be ashamed. We all do things we shouldn't, and although sex is embarrassing we all have those feelings. Don't let this person get to him.
 
Yeah sod em. Nowt wrong with a bit of cock and balls action.
Rofl!

On a serious note..is it worth considering paying the £20 in a way that won't compromise you further? I am certain the blackmailers will be back for more, that is how they work, but what it might give you is reprieve and some time for the authorities to investigate and stop them before the video is leaked.

You might also be able to obtain a paypal account or some bank details that will help the police. The blackmailer, having already broken the law and committed a crime, may not chance anything if hes worried about getting identified.
 
Yea I was just about to say maybe ask how they would like you to pay. If it's electronic it's traceable. If it's a pickup it's local.
 
Rofl!

On a serious note..is it worth considering paying the £20 in a way that won't compromise you further? I am certain the blackmailers will be back for more, that is how they work, but what it might give you is reprieve and some time for the authorities to investigate and stop them before the video is leaked.

You might also be able to obtain a paypal account or some bank details that will help the police. The blackmailer, having already broken the law and committed a crime, may not chance anything if hes worried about getting identified.
Meet me at the Tescos in central Manchester if you want your £20. I'll be the one wearing a black hoody, & carrying a baseball bat :laugh:
 
If they wanted £700, they won't stop at £20, they will keep going, and they may never stop. Like most scammers, if you ignore them they will move on. Unfortunately they may well publish the vid out of spite. That is something your son may have to live with. :(
 
Would almost be tempted to write a post on my Facebook wall along the lines of "dear friends and family, been a bit of a silly boy online and its come back to bite me. Thought I was engaged in a lively video call only to discover it was a con and now I'm being blackmailed for the footage. Well, I plan on sleeping easy tonight so won't be paying the blackmailer so if you get sent a video of my meat and two veg in the coming days I can only apologise".

That way it really doesn't matter what the blackmailer does, hopefully your son can sleep easy and just get on with his life (although expect a lot of stick at the family dinner on Xmas day!!!)
 

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