Legal Question in Criminal Law in Florida

am a student so I am sorry if I can not pay that much money. I am looking for a real solution/piece of mind. I have researched this issue already so I am looking for more than "go to the police"

I was on an internet adult chat room. Talked to a girl. She was very interested in talking. Wanted to send me pictures and asked if we could talk on Skype because its a better user interface so I said sure. I can't believe how dumb I was. We were talking and she said she was 17/f/va (I have a copy of the conversation if that helps). I didn't even think much about it and asked her if she was sending the pics to my e-mail. After that she wrote that she is underage (I checked her profile later and it said she was 25) and that she would send the transcript of the conversation to my school to the police to my family. He had information about me as I forgot that my e-mail address contains a link to my website. She displayed text from my website and said I had to send her a $40 amazon gift card in 30 seconds or she would start making calls. I was scared and just wanted to be done with the situation (and have since vowed to never go to internet chat rooms ever again..as I felt so so dumb). She then wrote me a day later saying she did not delete everything and she expects me to pay her another $40 every so often or 1 lump some of $340 or she would go through with what she said.

Now I obviously will not be paying her any more. There is nothing to say she will keep doing what she is doing (asuming it even is a women). However, I wanted to ask if you are familiar with situations like this/have delt with something like this in the past. I even found on a website instructions on how to pull this type of scam off, almost exactly as she did it. http://www.codeleakers.com/showthread.php?49564-Blackmailing-Tutorial-(Make-1-000-s)

That is the link. Anyways, I am really nervous. I am not sure she can really do anything, or if it would be worth it for her to do so. I REALLY want to just block her from e-mailing me or contacting me on skype and move on. However, I know there is not saying she won�t just get a different e-mail and continue to bother me. Not just from a legal perspective but overall I was just hoping you might have some practical suggestions or piece of mind so I can move on with my life and not have to worry too much. How is there even any proof that she hasn�t changed the document to alter the text in the conversation? Is this viable? Should I tell her that or just leave it along? Thoughts?


Asked on 7/23/12, 11:28 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Eric Trabin Lucid Legal, PLLC

This person is committing extortion, a felony. Whether you are guilty of an offense is another matter. I would most certainly take a screen shot and save her profile listing her as a 25 year old. I don't think she will do anything, but if she does, you may be able to prove that she was extorting you, that is, threatening to have you charged with a crime if you don't give her money. Save all of the email conversations you've had so you can prove, if necessary, her attempts at extortion.

While you may be able to block her it is true she could change her email and keep pestering you. You may wish to consider filing a petition for an injunction against stalking/cyber stalking.

Read more
Answered on 7/23/12, 11:38 am


Related Questions & Answers

More Criminal Law questions and answers in Florida