For many, the words extortion and blackmail bring forth images of Hollywood movies, celebrities
having illicit affairs and corporations trying to hide a wrongdoing. In today’s world of Internet
communications, Internet dating, and social media networking, extortion and blackmail can
happen to anyone who discusses, admits, or posts a lapse in judgment or their personal or
financial issues over the Internet. More alarming, extortion and blackmail can happen to innocent
individuals whose personal information has been stolen as part of a data breach.
The U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command, commonly known as CID, warns the
Army community to be aware of Internet extortion and blackmail scams and report any
instance where a Soldier, Army dependent, or Army civilian is or has been faced with
threats involving the payment of money or other valuables.
Extortion and blackmail are crimes that have grave consequences for its victims, to include
financial loss. The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center 2014 Internet Crime Report
stated that more than $16 million dollars was extorted from victims that year.
“In many instances, the situation begins when an unknowing victim is befriended by
someone on the Internet, often as part of an online dating or social media site,” said Daniel
Andrews, director of CID’s Computer Crime Investigative Unit. “The scammer quickly
builds a friendship and trust with the victim, and will begin to ask for or discuss information
or photos that could be hurtful to one’s personal or professional life if revealed. Because
the victim does not realize they are being scammed, they see the requests or discussion
as a normal part of the developing friendship and are willing to share the information.”
To the victim’s surprise, Andrews said, the scammers then threatens to release that
information if money is not paid.
Another instance of extortion can occur when scammers obtain an individual’s personal
information as part of a data breach. Such breaches, according to the Identity Theft
Resource Center, occurred 591 times in the first nine months of this year alone,
compromising more than 175 million records.
“Following a data breach, these scammers, these criminals, may try to extort money from
individuals who have a personal, financial, or medical condition they would not want
exposed,” Andrews said.
The FBI report gave one example, called payday loans, deferred-deposit check loans or
cash advance loans, as the most abundant type of extortion scam reported. The scam
takes place when an individual’s personal information has been revealed to what may
appear to be a legitimate business. The scammer calls the individual notifying them that a
loan in his or her name is delinquent and must be paid in full to avoid legal consequences.
The scammer has accurate information, such as social security numbers, birth dates, bank
account numbers, etc., and poses as a representative of a legitimate agency collecting
debt. The scammer often refuses to provide details of the alleged loan and may become
abusive when questioned. The FBI report further states that victims are often threatened
with legal action, arrests, and in some cases physical violence if they refuse to pay.
“Extortion is a touchy subject,” Andrews said, “because it often deals with intimate or very
personal information. Army personnel, however, need to be upfront and report it, and they
should not pay any money if they are being extorted.”
CID officials said the best thing Soldiers, civilians, and their family members can do is to
try to prevent it from ever taking place. All are encouraged to be cautious with their online
presence and what information they give to people they have met online or via email, and
be vigilant when receiving calls from individuals posing as legitimate businesses.
Whether or not your data has been stolen, officials said, you need to be informed and wary
of spam, phishing emails and promises of protection by identity theft and credit repair
services from future exposure. Officials further warn individuals to be suspicious of
communications regarding data breaches that do not come from credible sources.
If you receive a phone call or email you believe to be an extortion attempt, take the
following measures:
• If the safety or wellbeing of someone is in imminent danger, contact local law
enforcement immediately
• Do not reply to the email, click on any links, or open any attachments
• Report the email to the Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov
• File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission at
www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov
• Report the email to your email and Internet service provider
• Move the email to your SPAM folder
• If contacted through social media, report the contact to the social media provider
"The CID will continue to aggressively investigate and work with our global partners to
prosecute those who threaten our military forces and attempt to defraud them of their hardearned money,” Andrews said.
Soldiers, Army civilians, and their family members who have been threatened with
extortion should contact their installation Military Police or CID office. Individuals can also
email CID at Army.CID.Crime.Tips@mail.mil, or call 1-844-ARMY-CID (844-276-9243).