I have worked with many professional women facing online blackmail, and it is emotionally devastating.
The scam often unfolds in stages.
First comes the romance. The victim believes she has met the love of her life.
Then comes the realization it was a scam.
The money is gone.
The relationship was fake.
The heartbreak is real.
I have worked with women who lost hundreds of thousands of euros. They are left trying to recover financially and emotionally at the same time.
Then, just when they believe the scammer is gone, the blackmail begins.
One client was a high-level finance director in Singapore. If it became public that she had lost a significant amount of money to a romance scam, it could have cost her career.
Another client was a policewoman in the UK. She lost nearly half her savings to a romance scammer. When the money stopped, the threats started. The blackmailer demanded more money and threatened to send information and photos to the police commissioner’s office.
Many people think blackmail is only about compromising photos or videos.
It is not.
Sometimes the leverage is information that can damage your reputation, career, marriage, or public standing.
Many of these situations begin with a romance scam. The victim never imagines the person on the other end is a criminal. Unfortunately, many women do not take the time to determine whether their digital love interest is real before becoming emotionally invested.
If you are facing blackmail, I can help. I step in, take over as you, protect your identity, and work to prevent exposure.
You can also read Blackmail Survival for Married Women: Immediate Steps to Stop the Threat and follow the tactics.
If you are online dating, educate yourself before becoming emotionally involved. My books The Romance Detective: How to Tell If He’s a Jerk, Creep, Scammer — or Married and The Online Dating Journal: How To Identify Online Dating Red Flags And Avoid Romance Scammers, Married Men & Creeps were written to help people identify danger before it turns into heartbreak, financial loss, and blackmail.