How to deal with an online blackmailer?

This kind of thing happens way too often, and a lot of people don’t know where to turn for help. It’s good to see discussions like this where people can get real advice on what to do. Hopefully, they can put an end to this situation without too much trouble.

When it comes to online blackmail, ignoring the issue won’t solve it, but panicking can lead to poor decisions. The first thing to do is gather every piece of evidence—screenshots, emails, usernames—before making any moves. Reporting the blackmailer is the best way to protect your family member, and there’s a step-by-step guide here: https://www.vajiracoop.com/forum/topic/2280/reporting-internet-blackmail:-what-you-need-to-know. It explains how to involve authorities, what platforms can help, and how to ensure personal security. Acting quickly and following the right steps will give them the best chance of resolving this safely.

A family member of mine is being blackmailed online, and they don’t know what to do. Someone they barely know is threatening to expose their personal details unless they send money. They’re scared and don’t want to tell anyone else, but I know ignoring it won’t make it go away. What’s the safest way to deal with this? Should they report it right away, or is there another way to get the blackmailer to stop?