There is no question about it. Online extortion cases are on the rise. The FBI has found in a recent report that online extortion is the second most common cybercrime in the United States. The FBI reports that there were over 86,000 Complaints in 2024 – nearly doubling the 48,000 complaints received in 2023.
We sat down with Attorney Jed Chedid, Esq., owner of the Anti-Extortion Law Firm to discuss the issue. Chedid has handled numerous extortion cases on behalf of global and domestic clients. His success rate in keeping individuals’ information private is very high.
“These cases drop a mountain of pressure on the victims.” Chedid explained. “Sometimes, these extortionists will engage in a long conversation with their victims through any online source. These could be dating apps like Tinder or Grindr, or websites like Adult Friend Finder or Reddit. Sometimes, these extortionists will use AI to create pictures of their victims to blackmail them with. Either way, extortionists threaten to release this information somewhere.”
But Chedid seemed more concerned about the victims’ reaction to the threats when we asked him. He described how important it is for somebody to respond the right way to these kind of threats.
“What is the right way?” In classic lawyer fashion, Chedid answered “it depends.” “Where you are dealing with a nameless, faceless blackmailer, paying them is almost always a bad idea. I mean, think about it – what incentive do you give a blackmailer to go away if you pay them? You actually give them the opposite incentive – to keep blackmailing you because you are an actively paying victim.”
This begged our question – if a victim can’t pay, what can they do?
“Well, you have a few options. The first thing I tell people is to give us a call. Our consultation is free and you will be speaking with an attorney who is covered by the attorney-client privilege. During that meeting, we’ll discuss a plan for you and how we can put our anti-extortion protocol in place. That protocol has a phenomenal success rate of keeping information private.”
“But if somebody wants to do some online sleuthing before they reach out, they can go to the Anti-Extortion Law Firm’s Blackmail Resource Center.” Chedid explained that they consistently upload attorney reviewed and approved guidance on dealing with blackmail situations.
By our review, some of those articles include key topics like “What Are the Warning Signs that Someone is Trying to Sextort You Online?” and “What To Do If a Blackmailer Sends Your Photographs to Friends Or Family.”
When asked about the benefit of hiring an attorney rather than using the firm’s online resources, Chedid was clear:
“While the resources are excellent starting points for understanding the situation, they are no substitute for personalized legal intervention,” Chedid stated. “Online extortionists are often sophisticated and change their tactics frequently, which is why we employ an aggressive and proprietary anti-extortion protocol.”
The attorney explained that a victim’s first goal should be to prevent the release of any information. When a victim retains the Anti-Extortion Law Firm, the legal team immediately begins implementing confidential anti-extortion strategies.
“The greatest asset we offer is our experience,” Chedid concluded. “We know the landscape of these crimes and how to navigate the complicated digital world to protect our clients’ privacy and keep their information private.”
If you are currently facing an online extortion threat, the single most important step you can take is to cease all communication with the blackmailer and call a legal professional immediately. Attorney Jed Chedid, Esq. and the Anti-Extortion Law Firm offer a free consultation, which is protected by the attorney-client privilege, giving you a safe and confidential space to discuss your situation and initiate their high-success-rate anti-extortion protocol.