Sextortion Attorney

 

Sextortion is a serious crime that has profound effects on victims and their families. It can turn a victim’s world upside down, leaving them feeling trapped without a way out. This crime primarily targets children, but no one is immune from being targeted. If you need to take legal action to navigate the aftermath of one of these scams, a sextortion attorney serving Charleston and Columbia, SC can provide representation and help you hold the abuser accountable. 

At Joe Cunningham Law, we aggressively fight for you or your child when you have been victimized by sextortion. We provide compassionate, professional, and reliable representation so you can begin to regain and rebuild your life. We also ensure you have the resources you need to heal from the traumatic abuse you experienced. We actively work to get you the justice you and your family deserve. 

What Constitutes Sextortion

Acts of sextortion occur when one party misidentifies themselves in order to gain pictures or videos of an individual in a compromising situation and then blackmail them with it. The perpetrator uses these images and videos as leverage to get the victim to send more of the same, with the threat that they will release the content. In situations of financial sextortion, this content is leveraged for money. 

Sextortion can occur on any platform where communications and media can be exchanged and shared. Children and teens are common targets, but adults can be victims as well. In cases of sextortion, victims are often unaware of the true identity of the person blackmailing them. Individuals may pose as the opposite sex or present themselves as much younger than what they are in order to gain the victim’s trust and invite them to send intimate content. 

Sextortion and Gavin’s Law

In 2022, an act of sextortion became the catalyst for legislation that would make these offenses a felony in South Carolina. A man from Nigeria committed sextortion when he masqueraded as a woman on social media and targeted Gavin Guffey, who was 17 years old at the time. After gaining the teen’s trust and receiving intimate photos, the Nigerian man threatened to release the images if Gavin did not send him money. Gavin committed suicide in 2022 as a result. 

In response to the tragic loss of Gavin Guffey, his father, South Carolina State Representative Brandon Guffey introduced legislation that would become known as Gavin’s Law. This bill not only makes sextortion a felony offense in the state, but it is also an aggravated felony if minors or vulnerable individuals are victimized, injured, or die as a result. 

Sextortion has not only affected the Guffey family in South Carolina, but other children have been targeted in South Carolina as well. Another teen in South Carolina committed suicide after being sextorted for money. The teen’s abuser used Snapchat to harass the teen into sending $35 a day in exchange for not releasing a nude photo online. Sadly, these two teens have not been the only victims in the state, and efforts are being made to foster awareness and change. 

Types of Online Sextortion Scams

With any type of scam, bad actors use a variety of methods to acquire the information they want from vulnerable individuals. Sextortion is no different. Perpetrators use a variety of methods to gain access to this sensitive content and make demands. As such, it is important to know how they could try to blackmail you so you can better protect yourself online from these threats. Some common types of sextortion scams include:

Catfishing

This is a common type of scam where the perpetrator takes on the persona of a young person or that of the opposite sex from their victim. They use these personas to build trust and a romantic relationship with their victim to groom them and get them to send nude content. With this content in their possession, they will then demand more content or money in exchange for not releasing the photos or videos.

Social Media Scams

Not unlike catfishing, abusers find their victims on social media platforms, build relationships with them, and then extort them with the explicit content they received from victims. In this type of scam, the abuser is likely to threaten to share the content with the victim’s social media contacts if the victim does not provide more explicit content.

Webcam Scams

In this type of sextortion scam, a victim’s webcam is hacked to capture sensitive or explicit content. The attacker then uses this content to blackmail the victim so they send more images, videos, or money. If this content is not sent, the perpetrator will issue threats. 

Hacked Accounts and Reverse Sextortion

Hackers may gain access to an individual’s accounts, where they gather sensitive data like explicit content, financial information, passwords, and more. They may threaten to release the data or content they’ve acquired online in exchange for compromising photos and videos. 

Email Scams

This type of scam involves perpetrators emailing victims, saying they have sensitive content involving the victim, and that the attacker will expose it if the victim does not send money. In these situations, the perpetrator often does not actually have the content they say they do, but uses the uncertainty to leverage the victim to meet their demands. 

Deep Fake Scams

With the rise of AI, some abusers use it to create deep fake content. These images or videos may look very real, but they are generated by software and are not real. Abusers use this fake content to issue their demands with the threat of sharing the content online if the victim does not comply. 

Sextortion can even come from people you may know. Bullies, exes, or partners may have intimate photos that they threaten to release if you do not meet their demands or stay in a relationship with them. They are also likely to continue to request additional compromising content from you, not stopping even when they have received what they demanded from you. If your child has been victimized, our social media youth mental health lawyer can examine the details of your case to see if the platform the abuser used may be held liable, as well. 

How to Avoid Sextortion Scams

To avoid being a victim of a sextortion scam, it is important to know what signs to look out for when online. It is also important to teach children and teens proper safety protocols when interacting with others online. For children, even using various filters and blocking technology can help minimize the risk of them becoming victims. Regardless of age, though, every individual should know how to recognize, prevent, and respond to sextortion attacks. 

Using caution is one of the biggest ways you can reduce the threat of a sextortion scam. If you or your child receive unsolicited messages with links or attachments, be vigilant and avoid opening and interacting with the message or sharing personal information. Threats are another sign that a sextortion attempt may be underway. Contact the police if you feel you or your child is being targeted.

Additionally, taking extra steps to protect your information, passwords, and other data can help protect you from sextortion scams. Be careful with the content and information you share online, especially if you do not know the recipient. Knowledge is key to protection, so make sure you continue to pay attention and educate yourself on tactics scammers use and how their methods evolve over time. 

Steps to Take If You Are a Victim of a Sextortion Scam 

In the event that you have been targeted by a sextortion scam, there are a few steps you should take immediately to protect yourself and cut off the perpetrator’s access to you. While it may still take time to find the person targeting you, taking prompt action can prevent further harassment at the very least. Steps to take as a victim include: 

• Cut off the perpetrator’s access to you by changing passwords on any accounts they have used to contact you.
• Avoid responding or taking any action, even if the attacker demands money in exchange for privacy. 
• Promptly gather evidence by saving and taking screenshots of communications and requests from your abuser to ensure you can demonstrate the sextortion attempt without the risk of losing evidence. 
• Report the attacker’s crimes to the police immediately to launch an investigation and pursue justice.

In addition to taking these initial steps, it is important to receive support from loved ones during this difficult time, who can help you cope with what you have experienced. Sextortion is a deeply traumatic event, and seeking the help of a licensed mental health professional can have a significant impact on your ability to heal. A sextortion lawyer in Charleston, SC and Columbia, SC can also be part of your support system. 

Your Rights as a Victim of Sextortion

If you or your child has been targeted in a sextortion scam, it is important to know that you have rights and can pursue legal action with the help of a sextortion attorney in Charleston, SC and Columbia, SC. South Carolina takes this offense very seriously. In SC Code § 16-17-640, it lays out the parameters of what is considered blackmail and extortion, and SC Code § 16-16-20 lays out what offenses will receive a first, second, or third degree felony punishment. 

You also have the right to seek out resources that will help you get justice and receive valuable support in your healing journey. You do not have to suffer alone, and these resources, along with legal representation, give you an advocate and a voice. 

Protecting Children from the Psychological Impacts of Sextortion

Children and teens are exceptionally vulnerable to sextortion. Sadly, their innocence and time spent online make them easy targets for those who would exploit these young members of our community. On top of that, platforms like Snapchat and TikTok use algorithms that make content disappear quickly, adding to the pervasive nature of this crime. 

One of the biggest effects of sextortion is social media’s effect on youth mental health. In fact, there are many lawsuits that allege the algorithms of these platforms are addictive, toxic, and harmful. In cases like sextortion, victims may suffer from shame and fear of exposure. They may also not know who they are talking to, and be uncertain how to get the requests to stop. This may lead young people to take dangerous steps to seek relief from the harassment. 

Legal Representation Is Vital in the Aftermath of Sextortion

An attorney for sextortion victims in Charleston, SC and Columbia, SC understands how sensitive and emotional sextortion can be, and they ensure you have compassionate representation and an advocate who will protect you from further harm. They can help de-escalate situations and focus on your unique circumstances and needs to get the most effective results, so you or your child can begin to heal from the trauma of sextortion. 

These cases are also highly complex and require a thorough legal understanding to combat the wrong that was committed. The nature of the internet and the fake personas perpetrators often use creates a layer of anonymity that makes the investigative process and prosecution more challenging. However, your lawyer is equipped with the legal knowledge and resources to hone in on the right channels and negotiate results that will help you as you move forward. 

Your lawyer will take the time to gain a thorough understanding of the situation you are facing, as sextortion cases are multi-faceted. They will work closely with law enforcement to remain aware of updates in the case, protect your rights, and take all necessary legal action to resolve your case and help you get closure. Your lawyer will also provide support and connect you with valuable resources. 

Contact Our Compassionate Sextortion Attorney for Sextortion Victims in South Carolina

Joe Cunningham Law acts swiftly to put an end to sextortion and see that the perpetrator is held accountable, and you receive justice. No one should have to endure the trauma and humiliation of sextortion, and our team is committed to ensuring you have the representation you need to get the necessary legal services and resources to begin to heal. To schedule a free consultation with our team, contact us online today and take the first step toward a better future.