The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has filed a complaint accusing Digital Forensics Corporation of exploiting people already targeted by sextortionists.
We have talked about sextortion and recovery scams in the past, but we never looked specifically at the combination. Apparently, there is a lot of money to be made for those ruthless enough to take money from victims already in a state of panic.
The FTC has accused Digital Forensics Corporation, its owner Dmitry Belkin, and affiliated companies of misleading sextortion victims into paying at least $60 million for assistance that, in numerous instances, they did not provide. A federal court has temporarily halted the defendants’ activities while the case proceeds.
Most of the time, sextortion emails are a bluff sent to a large number of targets to see if one takes the bait. But sextortion can also involve intimate images that someone really possesses. In those cases, a criminal threatens to share the material unless the victim pays, sends more images, or complies with other demands.
In those cases, victims can feel desperate, especially when the demands keep coming, and may look for help to make it stop. According to the FTC, Digital Forensics targeted people searching for that help through advertisements on Google, YouTube, X, and other platforms. The company allegedly claimed it could track down criminals worldwide, identify perpetrators, and provide law enforcement with evidence needed to make arrests.
Digital Forensics allegedly charged between $1,499 and $20,000 for a “Phase 1” package. That was supposed to include communicating with the sextortionist, tracking their location, producing an investigative report, and reporting the crime to law enforcement.
According to the FTC, Digital Forensics Corporation changed the victims’ account settings to block the sextortionist, fabricated chat transcripts, and presented pre-saved coordinates, often in Nigeria or the Philippines, as the sextortionist’s location.
After collecting the first payment, the company allegedly pressured customers to purchase “Phase 2” services, supposedly providing ongoing account monitoring and further assistance. The FTC says the company did not follow through on those promises either.
Another huge red flag was that the company also allegedly discouraged victims from blocking their blackmailers, contrary to law enforcement and expert advice.
The allegations against Digital Forensics Corporation have not yet been decided by the court.
How to stay safe
Be wary of anyone who promises to stop the threats or pressures you to pay immediately. Help should offer clear information and realistic options. It should not turn your fear into another payment deadline.
If someone is threatening to share intimate images, you do not have to handle it alone.
- Preserve the threats and account details. Keep the messages, usernames, and payment demands. Block the offender but do not delete your account or the messages, since they may help real investigators.
- Stop communicating and block the blackmailer. Do not pay them or give them access to your devices or financial accounts. Report the account using the platform’s safety tools.
- Tell someone you trust about the sextortion. A friend, family member, counselor, or other trusted adult can provide support while you decide what to do next.
- Report the crime. Contact local police. In the US, you can also report sextortion to the FBI. If it involves a minor, report it through the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s CyberTipline.
If you have already paid a service that you believe misled you, keep its ads, messages, contract, and receipts, and report your experience to the FTC through ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
If you’re unsure whether something is a scam or not, ask Malwarebytes Scam Guard. It can help you assess it and provide advice on next steps.
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