Faced With Google Hangouts BLACKMAIL?
DON'T WAIT! ACT NOW!

The best defense against blackmail on Google Hangouts is to prevent it before it starts. The following practices can help you do just that:

• Utilize Privacy Settings. Limit who can reach you on Hangouts by changing your “Who can message you?” setting from “Anyone” to “Known senders only”.
• Avoid Oversharing. Don’t publicize personal information like your location, employer, financial data, and anything else that can be used against you.
• Vet Your Connections. When you connect with someone new for the first time, take a zero-trust approach. Analyze their profile and ask questions that would be difficult to fake answers to.
• Trust Your Gut. It can sometimes be difficult to pinpoint exactly what seems suspicious about an interaction. However, you should listen to your instincts if you get the sense that something is off.

If your situation has progressed past the point of prevention, all hope is not lost. Consider the following suggestions when taking your initial steps:

• Don’t Indulge the Scammer. You should never pay a cybercriminal or entertain their demands. End the conversation but avoid blocking the blackmailer. This can result in the permanent deletion of evidence and drive the perpetrator to carry out their threats.
• Collect Evidence of the Crime. Take screenshots of profiles, messages, and any relevant information that can be used to create a timeline of the incident. You will need this evidence for future legal action.
• Inform the Appropriate Authorities. You should begin by filing a report with your local police. Next, inform the FBI by filing a report through the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). You should also notify Google of the incident.

Google provides an option to block and report users who are engaging in abusive behavior. However, blocking can result in permanent deletion of critical evidence. Be sure to complete an investigation and collect evidence before blocking the user. It might be helpful to involve professional cyber investigators during this investigation period.

If you’ve already completed an investigation or wish to proceed with the risk of losing evidence, you can block and report a user on Google Hangouts by:

• Opening your messages within the platform.
• Clicking the three dots next to the username on PC or pressing and holding the chat on a mobile device.
• Selecting “Block & report” and checking the box next to “Also report”
• Selecting “Block” to submit your report and block the user.

You should also inform law enforcement. With the evidence you’ve collected, file a police report by either going into your local station or contacting them digitally. Furthermore, notify the FBI by filing a report at your local field house or online through the IC3.

Unfortunately, it is possible. Cybercriminals are unpredictable and often act irrationally when they feel confronted. Your response, as well as your identity, can influence the chances of a blackmailer carrying out their threats.

Factors That May Lead a Blackmailer to Follow Through:

• High-profile targets, such as celebrities, public figures, and those with a large net worth and considerable public influence.
• Targets who respond to threats with either a willingness to comply or, inversely, extreme confrontation.

Factors That May Deter a Blackmailer from Following Through:

• Risk of losing leverage over the situation by releasing the content they are leveraging in their scheme.
• Fear of getting caught, whether it’s due to additional criminal action or your collaboration with law enforcement and cybersecurity experts.

Our team knows how to identify the blackmailer, remove their leverage, and prevent the spread of your private data. We document the entire investigation to preserve the chain of custody and ensure its admissibility as evidence. Furthermore, we can help find a law enforcement agency with jurisdiction to take action against your blackmailer.