Extortion or Exaction Investigations

Extortion is the illegal act of unlawfully obtaining money, property, services, or information from a person, company, organization, or other entity through coercion. Even if the person or group threatening extortion never receives the money or goods, they are still guilty of extortion. Exaction goes beyond extortion by also threatening, or actually inflicting pain or suffering, or forcing someone to endure something unpleasant.

Extortion and blackmail are terms often confused or misused because they have similar meanings. Blackmail is threatening to do something that is legal, such as sharing information, as opposed to extortion, in which an illegal action is threatened, such as filing a false police report. Extortion commonly takes the form of:

• Threatening to file a false claim against someone unless money, goods, or services are received
  
• Threatening to file a lawsuit on false grounds unless money, goods, or services or received
  
• “Protection” from local gangs, mafia, or police provided at an unreasonable price, with the relative threat that without “protection” harm will come to the person or company being extorted
  
• Threatening to release photographs, video, or audio recordings of the extorted person or company in a compromising position

An extortion or exaction investigation by ICS will involve interviewing the person or entity being extorted, finding witnesses to the extortion or informants willing to testify to the extortion or exaction, surveillance of the suspected extortioner, and a variety of other techniques specific to this type of investigation. Be prepared to be truthful with your investigator; talking about extortion may be stressful or uncomfortable, but being open and honest will help the private investigators at ICS solve your case quickly and efficiently. Without an extortion or exaction investigation, you may be subjected to further extortion in the future, and in the case of exaction, your financial and physical health may be at risk.

All private investigators with ICS are licensed, where applicable, are experienced, and will handle your case with the utmost discretion, treating you with dignity and respect. If you are the victim of extortion, blackmail, or exaction, please call ICS or fill out a free consultation on our website. Do not wait too long to begin your investigation with ICS because the longer you wait, the greater the risk is that you will be extorted again.

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