Orange Park, FL asked in Criminal Law for Florida

Q: Father says woman I was sexting is his underage daughter and wants money or he will press charges. Is this a scam?

Supposed father of a woman I had a brief conversation with says that she is underage. She sent me two explicit photos and I sent one explicit photo upon request without my face in it. He says that daughter broke a laptop and phone when he confronted her. He wants $1200 or he will press charges. Is this a scam or should I be concerned

Related Topics:
2 Lawyer Answers
Terrence H Thorgaard
Terrence H Thorgaard
Answered
  • Freeeport, FL
  • Licensed in Florida

A: It's extortion (a/k/a blackmail); a crime. Florida Statute836.05 provides as follows: 

"Threats; extortion.—Whoever, either verbally or by a written or printed communication, maliciously threatens to accuse another of any crime or offense, or by such communication maliciously threatens an injury to the person, property or reputation of another, or maliciously threatens to expose another to disgrace, or to expose any secret affecting another, or to impute any deformity or lack of chastity to another, with intent thereby to extort money or any pecuniary advantage whatsoever, or with intent to compel the person so threatened, or any other person, to do any act or refrain from doing any act against his or her will, shall be guilty of a felony of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084."

Of course you are probably guilty of a crime as well. So sure, you should be concerned.

But if you do pay him there is little to stop him from turning him in anyway. Except the risk of being prosecuted too.

Deborah Annette Carroll
Deborah Annette Carroll
Answered
  • Criminal Law Lawyer
  • Lakeland, FL
  • Licensed in Florida

A: I suspect this is a scam. I recently had someone come into my office with the exact same facts and it was a scam. If you google this scam you will see many, many posts regarding other victims. DO NOT send any money!

Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.

The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.

Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.