Sextortion investigation

Sextortion & Online Blackmail

Sextortion cases can move quickly. The first priorities are preserving the evidence, documenting what happened, and identifying the technical and investigative leads that can support an attorney or law-enforcement response.

Online blackmail & exploitation

Preserve the evidence. Identify the leads.

First State Forensics can help victims, attorneys, and investigators organize, preserve, and analyze digital evidence associated with sextortion, online blackmail, and related cyber-enabled threats.

Forensic investigation

Preserve, examine, and document the evidence

First State Forensics can help victims, attorneys, and investigators organize and preserve the digital evidence associated with sextortion, online blackmail, and related cyber-enabled threats.

  • Preservation of threatening messages, emails, chats, social-media communications, images, videos, and account information
  • Mobile-device and computer forensic examination when appropriate
  • Review of usernames, account identifiers, phone numbers, email addresses, URLs, domains, and other attribution leads
  • Email-header, metadata, timeline, and account-activity analysis where available
  • Cryptocurrency wallet, payment-demand, and transaction review when digital currency is involved
  • Clear documentation and reporting for attorneys, investigators, or law enforcement
Cybercrime reporting

IC3 Complaint Assistance

First State Forensics has extensive experience with Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) complaints and cybercrime reporting. With the client or victim's authorization, we can organize the incident details, relevant identifiers, payment information, and supporting evidence and prepare and submit an IC3 complaint on the client's behalf.

IC3 is the FBI's primary public reporting portal for cyber-enabled crime. A well-organized complaint can help ensure the most relevant facts, accounts, transaction details, and technical indicators are documented clearly.

Filing an IC3 complaint does not guarantee contact, investigation, recovery of funds, or enforcement action. First State Forensics is not affiliated with or endorsed by the FBI or IC3.

Visit the Official IC3 Portal →

Before evidence disappears

What to preserve

Do not delete the conversations, reset the device, wipe accounts, or discard the device simply because the material is embarrassing or upsetting. Preserve the information that may later be needed to identify the account, document the threat, or support a report.

  • Take screenshots of the threats, demands, usernames, profiles, dates, and times
  • Preserve original emails, text messages, chat threads, direct messages, and account notifications where possible
  • Record profile URLs, account handles, phone numbers, email addresses, payment instructions, wallet addresses, and transaction IDs
  • Keep records of any payments already made and any subsequent demands
  • Avoid deleting or altering relevant evidence before it can be reviewed or preserved

If someone is in immediate physical danger, contact 911 or local law enforcement. When the victim is under 18, suspected child sexual exploitation should also be reported through the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children's CyberTipline.

NCMEC CyberTipline →

Need help preserving the evidence or filing an IC3 complaint?

Discuss a Sextortion Matter →