Love, or the desire to find a mate, can make people do some crazy things. Whether you are looking for a sexcapade or something everlasting, the quest to find a companion can make people vulnerable to blackmail scams and in some cases, other crimes.
The drive to find the “perfect” match is quite powerful, comparable to hunger or thirst, and this reflexive like urge can definitely cloud judgement and make people less likely to question the motives of someone they are speaking with online or through a dating app. In fact, romantic feelings of love produce feelings of euphoria, very similar to the effects of heroin or cocaine, which explains why otherwise intelligent people may behave irrationally to get a fix. The Internet and dating apps and websites have only perpetuated the risk of scams and crimes.
Here is the deal, though. Sextortion cases are very real and happen more often than you think to smart and accomplished people. Anyone can be a victim. Let’s say you are on eHarmony, Grindr or Tinder hoping to meet someone. You start chatting and soon develop romantic feelings. Your conversations get a little more explicit and maybe you send some provocative pictures or videos. Now your love interest is threatening to send these images to your boss, co-workers, wife, family members, friends, etc. unless you pay them money. Now, you are victim of sextortion. This happens all the time, and most people are too embarrassed to admit it. The Florida sex crimes defense lawyers at Whittel & Melton want you to know that you don’t have to meet their requests. We can make sure we handle these threats in a timely and discreet manner to protect your best interests.
Common Dating Sites and Apps in FloridaAt Whittel & Melton, our attorneys handle blackmail and sextortion cases involving all dating sites and romantic apps, including:
Online dating sites and apps can be a great way to meet new people in Miami and throughout Florida, but you have to be cautious. If you are being blackmailed by an online love interest, don’t cave in and grab your wallet. Please reach out to a lawyer at Whittel & Melton first so that we can help you resolve your sextortion case. We understand your reputation is at risk, and we can help you make this matter go away without involving police and prosecutors.
Call us today at 866-608-5529 or contact us online to arrange a completely free consultation to learn more about how we can help you.