Blackmail is a way of controlling other people, unseemly actions for the purpose of extortion, aimed at obtaining any benefits (material, physical or psychological) through the threat of exposure, disclosure of any defamatory information, intimidation or coercion.
Psychological blackmail
Parents who are dissatisfied with the behavior of the child, a couple who are having a hard time breaking the gap, an employer who demands greater returns from their employee, are all potential situations for the use of psychological violence. Emotional blackmail is a type of manipulation that is often used by loved ones to get for themselves what they need, to achieve more comfortable conditions. This type of threat is not a criminally punishable act and is not regulated by law in any way, so you need to deal with the blackmailer yourself:
- First you need to understand that if you give in once, there is a good chance that you will again encounter a blackmailer. By accepting his terms, we only help him improve his skills.
- Walking with the blackmailer about it, the person belittles his self-esteem, which will adversely affect his mental state.
- In no case should one enter into an emotional conflict with the blackmailer and take his threats to heart. You need to deal with him smoothly and unemotionally, keeping your distance.
- Stop being afraid of the blackmailer’s threats, and on the contrary, understand what motivates him and why he does it, to understand the essence of his behavior and push him in the right direction out of the conflict situation, looking for other sources of satisfaction of his desires.
Physical blackmail
But physical blackmail is a way of extortion. This type of threat is already covered by the Criminal Code and is regulated by law. Extortion refers to a group of crimes directed against property, but not including signs of theft.
Article of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation 163 classifies extortion as a requirement to transfer another's property or the right to it under the threat of violence, the dissemination of false or defamatory information to the victim or relatives, and the destruction of property.
Criminal punishment for extortion
If extortion is committed by prior conspiracy by a group of persons, with the use of violence, on a large scale, then article of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation 163 imposes a sentence of imprisonment of up to 7 years and a fine of up to 500 thousand rubles or in the amount of the salary received by the convicted person for the last three years .
If the extortion was committed by an organized group of persons with the aim of obtaining property on an especially large scale, with violence and causing grievous bodily harm, then punishment is provided for from 7 to 15 years in prison with a fine of 1 million rubles.
Types of extortion. Ransomware blackmailer - who is he?
Any demand for property or money from a person in exchange for some service or concealment of secrets is considered a crime. And this must be remembered both by the ransomware and the victim: any physical blackmail is an article.
As criminal practice shows, the most common type in our country is extortion of a school-student type with a specific contingent - schoolchildren and young people under 25 years old. As a rule, this is the most “harmless” type of blackmail.
Crimes of this type are committed both by individuals and groups of individuals. Moreover, due to their age qualities, students in most cases act as a group, and students prefer an individual form of crime. This is due to the fact that a schoolboy blackmailer, because of his immaturity and desire for self-affirmation, needs psychological support from his peers.
The most common extortionists are “difficult teenagers,” children from dysfunctional families, many of whom are registered with law enforcement agencies and have poor school performance. For such blackmail, an article of the Criminal Code provides for a fine of 80,000 rubles or imprisonment of up to 4 years, as well as forced labor for up to 4 years with or without restriction of liberty up to 2 years or arrest for up to 6 months.
This type of blackmail, as a rule, does not include physical harm to the victim, although it is typical for student extortion to inflict light or serious harm to the victim’s health when intoxicated.
The second type is household. A person of any status and affluence can become a ransomware here. The motive in this case is not only self-interest and greed, but also personal insults. A criminal in domestic extortion acts through blackmail. The threat is usually transmitted verbally, sometimes by telephone or electronically. The writing is rarely used. To manipulate the victim, threats of physical violence are most often used.
The third type is racketeering. It has a direct connection with the business world and the market economy and was especially popular in our country during the time of perestroika. It is committed, as a rule, by an organized group of people, is of the most aggressive nature, accompanied by infliction of grievous harm to the health of the victim.
The fourth type is official. This type of crime is committed by a person with a high status position and certain regalia. Basically it refers to bribery.
How to behave if you are blackmailed?
Any blackmail is a strong emotional shake, so the main rule in this situation is not to get nervous, calm down and start thinking.
- You need to understand exactly what they are going to blackmail you with. When you figure out what information can be used against you, try to familiarize yourself with its content. Very often it is transmitted orally, so it is worth requiring its full provision. At least there should be at least copies of documents that will serve as evidence.
- If you refuse to complete the transaction, find out when the next threat will be . This way you gain time, which will provide an opportunity to think and calculate further actions.
- Calmly evaluate the situation and decide whether communication with the blackmailer will be an even bigger mistake than refusing it. What will you lose if you do not agree to go on the terms of the criminal?
How to prove and where to go?
What if you are blackmailed? You need to go directly to law enforcement agencies with a statement on the basis of which a criminal case will be launched. You must go to the hospital for a medical examination if health damage was caused during the blackmail process. Try to record a conversation on the recorder, provide printouts of electronic correspondence, photographs, video tapes, testimonies - in general, everything that can be used as evidence of extortion.
Of course, you can act on your own, but in this case there are no guarantees that there will be a right to the criminal. It is better to trust professionals and seek advice from a law firm. Remember: blackmail is an article of the Criminal Code.