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CRITICAL THREAT · Consumer Fraud

FTC Shuts Down Fraudulent 'Sextortion Assistance' Scheme

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has taken legal action against Digital Forensics Corporation and its owner, Dmitry Belkin, for operating a fraudulent 'sextortion assistance' scheme that allegedly defrauded victims of at least $60 million.

10/20/2026Google SearchYouTubeX (formerly Twitter)General social media and messaging platforms

Warning signs

  • Companies demanding thousands of dollars for 'sextortion assistance' or 'investigative' services
  • Aggressive sales tactics pressuring victims to pay for 'Phase 1' and 'Phase 2' packages
  • Promises to track the physical location of anonymous online scammers
  • Claims that the company will communicate with the blackmailer on your behalf
  • Refusal to honor refund policies when services are not delivered
  • Use of fabricated chat transcripts or generic location data in 'investigative reports'

What you should do

  • Do not pay for 'sextortion assistance' services that promise to track or negotiate with criminals
  • Report the incident to local law enforcement and the FBI
  • If the victim is a minor, report the incident to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) via their CyberTipline
  • Use the platform's built-in safety and reporting tools to block the perpetrator
  • Reach out to a trusted friend, family member, or counselor for emotional support
  • If you have been defrauded by a service, report your experience to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and retain all receipts, contracts, and communications
The FTC alleges that Digital Forensics Corporation exploited individuals already in crisis by promising to stop sextortion attacks through services such as tracking perpetrators, communicating with them, and reporting crimes to law enforcement. Instead, the company reportedly failed to deliver these services, fabricated investigative reports, and used aggressive sales tactics to charge victims thousands of dollars. A federal court has temporarily halted the company's operations. Victims are warned that many legitimate resources for sextortion are free, and they should be wary of companies promising quick, paid fixes for these sensitive situations.

Sources

https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2026/10/ftc-sues-operator-sextortion-relief-scheme-misleading-consumers-believing-it-would-identifyhttps://www.missingkids.org/blog/2026/ncmec-releases-new-sextortion-data-2025https://www.centraloregondaily.com/young-men-were-sextorted-feds-shut-down-firm-exposed-by-usa-today/article_2b22d6f7-a8b7-566c-9aa1-825347fc0e0d.htmlhttps://www.malwarebytes.com/blog/news/2026/10/sextortion-help-firm-took-60-million-from-victims-ftc-allegeshttps://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2026/10/sextortion-when-someone-threatens-share-your-intimate-images-unless-you-pay