It starts with a message you never saw coming. A stranger claims they’ve hacked your phone or recorded you on a webcam. They threaten to expose you—to your boss, your family, the world—unless you pay.
It’s called sextortion. And it’s a lie designed to paralyze you with fear.
😱 Why It Matters: This scam isn’t about money and shame. Scammers know fear is more powerful than facts—so they push hard and fast, hoping you’ll pay before you think. And far too many people do.
🧠 What To Know:
- Most of the time, there are no photos, no videos, no hack.
- Scammers use stolen emails, usernames, or weak passwords to fake credibility.
- The goal is emotional blackmail, not truth.
🛑 What To Do:
- Don’t reply. Any response gives them power.
- Don’t pay. It won’t make them stop.
- Do take a screenshot of the message.
- Do block the sender.
- Do report it to local authorities or online crime units.
💬 The Truth: You haven’t done anything wrong. You’re not alone. And you don’t have to deal with this in silence. Investigators see this tactic every day and they know how to help.
🔍 The Big Picture: This scam works because it preys on something deeply human: the fear of being seen in your worst light.
🛑 🛑 🛑
Before You Dismiss This Article…
We live in a time when information feels overwhelming, but here’s what hasn’t changed: facts exist whether they comfort us or not.
When A&W launched their third-pound burger to compete with McDonald’s Quarter Pounder in the 1980s, it failed spectacularly. Not because it tasted worse, but because customers thought 1/3 was smaller than 1/4. If basic math can trip us up, imagine how easily we can misread complex news.
The press isn’t against you when it reports something you don’t want to hear. Reporters are thermometers, not the fever itself. They’re telling you what verified sources are saying, not taking sides. Good reporting should challenge you — that’s literally the job.
Next time a story makes you angry, pause. Ask yourself: What evidence backs this up? Am I reacting with my brain or my gut? What would actually change my mind? And most importantly, am I assuming bias just because the story doesn’t match what I hoped to hear.
Smart readers choose verified information over their own comfort zone.
B.T. Clark
B.T. Clark is an award-winning journalist and the Publisher of The Georgia Sun. He has 25 years of experience in journalism and served as Managing Editor of Neighbor Newspapers in metro Atlanta for 15 years and Digital Director at Times-Journal Inc. for 8 years. His work has appeared in several newspapers throughout the state including Neighbor Newspapers, The Cherokee Tribune and The Marietta Daily Journal. He is a Georgia native and a fifth-generation Georgian.
