FTC Sues Allegedly Deceptive Sextortion-Assistance Services, Tells Victims Where Real Help Is
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued a consumer alert in October and announced a lawsuit against Digital Forensics and its websites, including BlackmailHelpline.com, DigitalForensics.com, CyberBlackmail911.com and SecurityBreach911.com, alleging the company charged sextortion victims thousands of dollars on false promises that it could stop the blackmail, keep intimate images from spreading and report the crime to law enforcement, without delivering. The FTC says victims should not pay, should ignore and block the blackmailer, and should report to local police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) at fbi.gov or 1-800-225-5324. Cases involving minors can be reported to the CyberTipline of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at 1-800-843-5678. Under the Take It Down Act, platforms must remove nonconsensual intimate images free of charge within 48 hours of notice, and failures can be reported at TakeItDown.ftc.gov. Adult victims can also call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233.
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：联邦贸易委员会总部 Apex 大楼。图片来源：Carol M. Highsmith 摄，国会图书馆藏品，公共领域。Photo: The Apex Building, headquarters of the Federal Trade Commission. Source: Photo by Carol M. Highsmith, Library of Congress, public domain.
