POF Sextortion: What to Do If You are the Victim?

Dating is tough, especially in today’s digital climate where it’s rare to meet someone and build a connection in person. We all rely on the internet for almost everything, including dating. Although, with online dating, there is a far higher chance of getting your heart broken. Being catfished has unfortunately become fairly common ever since social media and dating apps such as Plenty of Fish became a thing. However, catfishing someone is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to online sextortion. If you are currently dealing with POF sextortion and need guidance, read on to find out what your next steps should be to overcome this terrible crime.

What is Plenty of Fish Sextortion?

Plenty of Fish sextortion consists of blackmailers also known as sextortionists, disguising their identity on POF and coercing their victims into sharing explicit content to then blackmail them into sending thousands of dollars. The reason why so many people fall for this scam is because of the platform it’s being taken place on. Plenty of Fish is used to find love interests or just someone to have a good time with. Dating apps are known to be a big part of hookup culture. That being said, the idea of exchanging explicit content isn’t taboo. Lots of people use the platform to either try and build a relationship or just use the app to have some adult fun.

How to Avoid a POF Sextortion Scam?

There are many precautions to take when speaking to strangers online. Not everyone is going to be who they say they are and it’s very simple to create a false identity on the internet. Here are some ways you can avoid becoming a POF sextortion victim.

1. Do not for any reason send explicit images or videos of yourself to a stranger. If the connection is strong just wait for that first meet-up to see if they are who they say they are. It’s so easy for someone to just grab a fake image from the internet and send it pretending it’s them.
2. Be sure to take a deep dive into every person’s profile that reaches out to you. You will be surprised at how telling these scammers profiles are if you pay close attention. If you see anything strange, do not engage.
3. Make sure to implement strong privacy settings and limit the amount of personal information you share on your online accounts. Sextortionists don’t just tend to only scope out your POF profile. They will also try to find your other social media accounts to use any information you make public to help them coerce you into speaking with them.

What to Do If You Are the Victim of POF Sextortion?

If you are a victim of POF sextortion there are things you can do to make sure you are protected and get the best results in resolving this terrible issue. Firstly, try to avoid giving in to the demands of your blackmailer. Doing so will only make things worse and give them the idea they can keep coming back for more money. Next, you want to do as much as you can to document all of the threats, accounts, names, dates, etc. This will be very beneficial for an investigation. Lastly, reach out for help as soon as the threats start! Do not let your blackmailer scare you into silence. The authorities and cybercrime experts can help you overcome this traumatic experience.

Conclusions

POF sextortion can be very scary and harmful to victims’ lives. If you are experiencing this, please do not wait to get help. Take action and start to build a plan! Remember to avoid paying them, document as much evidence, and alert authorities and experts as soon as you can. You are not alone in this! There is help available if you want it.