How To Report Blackmail on WhatsApp

When you register for WhatsApp using your phone number, you can start to text other people in your contact.

On WhatsApp, someone only needs to have your phone number associated with WhatsApp for them to message you.

Unfortunately, you may get random people texting you.

It gets worse if someone tries to blackmail you with malicious motives.

Are you being blackmailed on WhatsApp? If that’s the case, how to report it?

We will understand how people blackmail others on WhatsApp. Later, we will see the different options you can use to report blackmail on WhatsApp and block the person.

Can Someone Blackmail You on WhatsApp?

Yes, they can. Although WhatsApp is clear about its terms of service which include respect for everyone on the platform, some users disregard them.

Blackmail involves threatening or extorting someone for sex or money favors to avoid revealing something about them.

The blackmailer aims to exploit someone as a way of them stopping you from revealing something that could defame them or embarrass them.

Ideally, the blackmailer has an advantage over the victim. Blackmailing someone is illegal, and depending on the laws of your land, it is a criminal offense to blackmail someone, and you can be jailed for it.

On WhatsApp, you can encounter blackmail in different ways. The common ones include the following.

Defamation Threats

When someone has evidence of past activities or other embarrassing things that can quickly defame you, they can use them to blackmail you.

Online presence matters; when someone has something negative about you and knows you can’t risk affecting your reputation, they will use this to blackmail you.

Sextortion

Sometimes, someone could be having explicit videos, chats, or images that they can use to blackmail you and ask for money favors.

Someone can send you such a picture as evidence and use it to demand payment to avoid them exposing the content.

Whatever blackmail you face, you shouldn’t allow it to affect and weaken you. WhatsApp has a report feature that you can use to report and block someone.

How To Report Blackmail on WhatsApp

When registering for WhatsApp, we agree to follow its terms of service.

So, if you notice someone is trying to blackmail you on WhatsApp, you have room to report and block them. WhatsApp will investigate the reported case and can ban the reported number if found guilty.

Different ways exist that you can use to report blackmail on WhatsApp.

Method #1: Report a New Number

Most blackmails originate from new phone numbers that are not your contacts.

When a new number texts you threatening you or using other blackmail forms, follow the quick steps below to report them:

1. Open WhatsApp.
2. Open the chat with the unknown number.
3. Tap the “Block“ option. If you can’t see that option, tap on their phone number at the top.
4. Next, select a reason and tap the “Block“ option.

Method #2: Report a Contact

This process differs on iOS and Android devices.

On Android

Follow these steps:

1. Open the WhatsApp app.
2. Access the chat of the contact you want to block.
3. Tap the three dots at the top.
4. Select the “More“ option.
5. Tap the “Report“ button.
6. Select whether to block the person.
7. Lastly, hit the “Report“ button.

On iOS

Follow these steps:

1. Open WhatsApp.
2. Access the target chat.
3. Tap on the person’s name at the top.
4. Select the “Report [name]“ option.
5. Hit the “Report and Block“ option.

Method #3: Report a Blackmail “View Once“ Video or Photo

Someone can send you a “view once” video or photo as evidence they wish to use to stage the blackmail.

When such a case happens, you can report the shared media file:

1. Open WhatsApp.
2. Access the “view once” media file.
3. Tap the three dots at the top.
4. Tap the “Report“ button.

Conclusion

When you notice someone who wants to blackmail you, use the different methods presented in this guide to report them on WhatsApp.

Once the reported case is investigated, WhatsApp will take the necessary actions.