top of page
Writer's pictureleadindia400
Nov 14 min read

What Steps Can You Take If Your Ex-Partner Is Using Cyber Blackmail To Control You?

With The Increasing Reliance On The Internet In Our Day-To-Day Lives, The Risk Of Cyber Blackmail, Also Referred To As Cyber Extortion, Does Not Come As A Surprise For A Great Number Of Individuals. 

Cyber Blackmail Refers To Threatening To Disclose Media Or Information That Could Be Regarded As Additional Evidence, Private, Or Embarrassing For Gaining Something Of The Other. Sadly, This Does Not Always Go As Intended; It Can Be Weaponized By The Former Partners To Control, Coerce, Or Even Torment, Particularly Where Intimate Or Private Materials Are Involved. 

If You Find Yourself In Such A Position, It's Important To Know What Steps Should Be Taken To Regain Your Power, Protect Yourself, And Seek Justice As It Stands. 

Acknowledge The Situation As Abuse:


  • First Of All, Every Patient Must Appreciate The Extent Of Danger That Cyber Blackmail Poses. This Is A Form Of Harassment, Abuse, And Control. The Perpetrator Is Seeking To Dominate By Instilling Fear Through The Use Of Private Information Against You. Accepting This Is The First Step In Regaining Your Freedom.

  • Many Victims Are Plagued Or Obsessed With Feelings Of Guilt, Shame, Or Even Embarrassment, And These Feelings Work Against One’s Rationale. Remember, It Is Not Your Fault That Your Ex Made Abusive Choices, And There Is Nothing Right Or Legal About Their Actions. To Respond Appropriately, It Must Be Understood That One Is A Victim Of Abuse.


Document Everything:


  • The Importance Of Keeping Track Of Everything In Building A Case Against Your Ex-Partner Cannot Be Overemphasized. You Should Save Every Kind Of Communication, Written Or Verbal, Including Texts, Rings, Emails, Screen-Grabbed Threats, And Conversations Regarding Extortion. If The Extortion Is Done Via The Internet Or Messaging Services, Do Take Screenshots Of The Dialogue Or, Preferably, Download The Chats In Case The Offender Decides To Wipe Them Out.

  • If You Want To File A Lawsuit, This Documentation Will Be Important. Moreover, Documenting The Abusive Behavior In Great Detail Makes It More Difficult For The Offender To Later Retract Their Acts By Illustrating The Severity Of The Harassment.


Strengthen Your Cyber Security:


  • It Is Recommended That You Create And Employ Secure, Unique Passwords For Your Accounts, Especially For Social Media And Email Accounts. Avoid Using Your Pet’s Name, Date Of Birth, Or Any Other Easily Guessable Or Common Phrases. Consider Having A Password Manager To Help Store This Information Conveniently And Safely. 

  • Two-Factor Authentication Proved To Be A Useful Tool For Protecting Your Accounts. Let’s Say Your Ex Can Obtain Your Password. They Would Still Not Be Able To Log In As They Want, As They Would Need Another Element, Such As A Public Mobile Phone That Will Generate A Code To Allow Access. 

  • Ensure That The Password Protection Features On Your Smartphone, Tablet, And Computer Are Enabled. Install Anti-Virus Software On Your Device And Conduct Regular Sweeps To Prevent The Invasion Of Viruses And Spyware.

  • Peruse The Settings Of Your Account Thoroughly And Ensure That Only People You Trust Can See Your Social Media Posts. Disable Sharing Of Your Location, And Be Mindful Of What You Share In Public.

  • Store Important Files On External Hard Drives Or In The Cloud. This Will Also Help Ensure That You Do Not Stand To Lose Essential Data In Case Of A Cyberattack.


Seek Legal Assistance:


  • Even If You Are Unsure About Whether You Might Want To File Charges Or Not, This Is A Critical Action To Take. Such Records May Serve As Evidence, And Law Enforcement May Often Intervene To Prevent Any Further Harm.

  • If Your Former Partner Is Still Stalking You, Chances Are You Can Apply For Protection Orders Or Refuse To Receive Any Contact From That Person. That Restrains Them Legally From Communicating With You, Which Helps To Some Extent.

  • A Skilled Attorney Who Specializes In Prosecuting Criminals Over The Internet Can Assist You In Formulating The Case And Advise You On How You Should Handle The Issue Of Blackmail And Represent You In Pursuing Legal Measures Against The Offender. 

  • If There Has Been Damage To Your Reputation, Then The Laws On Defamation May Be Applied. Moreover, There Are Privacy Laws That Are Likely To Protect You Against The Mistimed Revelation Of Sensitive Information.


Report The Abuse:


  • Youtube, Facebook, Instagram, And Twitter All Have Featured Private Reporting Tools That Enable Every Piece Of Content Published Without Authorization To Be Reported. 

  • In Some Cases, They May Be Able To Act Quickly And Remove The Offending Material From The Site. You May Well Reach Out To The Team Directly And Provide Evidence Of The Emotional


Emotional & Psychological Support:


  • In Such Cases, A Trauma Therapist, An Abuse Therapist, Or A Cyberbullying Therapist Would Be Effective, Provided That They Have A Good Grounding In The Effects Of Blackmail. Counseling Can Also Help One Fight Back And Reclaim One’s Self-Worth And Balance In Life. 


  • If You’ve Suffered From Abuse Or Harassment Because Of The Internet, Then Such A Support Group Might Be The Right Option For You. Participating In Conversations With Others Who Have Experienced Similar Situations Can Help Ease Discomfort And Provide Comfort In Knowing One Is Not Isolated.


Empower Yourself:6t


  • Understand The Statutes Specific To Your Country That Deal With Issues Like Online Bullying, Extortion, And Crimes Committed Using Computers. A Very Useful Organization Engaged In The Provision Of Resources And Assistance To Protect Digital Rights Is The Electronic Frontier Foundation (Eff).

  • You Can Safeguard Your Online Privacy Using A Variety Of Tools And Sites. Spend Some Time Learning About Secure Communication Methods, Encryption, And Techniques To Prevent Unauthorized Use Of Your Data.


One Can Talk To A Lawyer From Lead India For Any Kind Of Legal Support. In India, Free Legal Advice Online Can Be Obtained At Lead India. Along With Receiving Free Legal Advice Online, One Can Also Ask Questions To The Experts Online For Free Through Lead India.


Visit Us: — www.leadindia.law

Call Us: +91–8800788535

1 view

Comments

bottom of page