I mean, for sure it is because you haven't hobbied in forever. The fact that they have your personal info is concerning, but I'd be willing to bet it's an empty threat. You probably responded to a fake ad forever ago and they just sat on it so you couldn't figure out who it was once they made their move. I would ignore it, but then again the way I move makes me untouchable so I have nothing to fear.

A couple times ive gotten a text from someone claiming to be with the Sinaloa Cartel's prostitution division, saying that I had wasted one of their girls' time the night before. They said that if I didn't pay the booking fee in addition to some kind of penalty fee, they would come and... well, bad stuff. Then they sent a couple texts with pictures of mutilated bodies and shit. I fucking laughed in his face and told him that I hadn't cum yet, so if he wanted the money he would have to come over and blow me himself. No response.

I can't advise you on what you should do other than get a burner phone and create new accounts for everything. Good luck.

Why would anyone spend time digging up dirt and targeting YOU specifically?

 
Have you used Real ID or LinkedIn to screen (18 months ago or not).

Stories similar to this have been reported on the boards multiple times in the past year or so. So far no one has come back to say any of the threatened actions occurred.

 
Not sure what info you provided but it doesn't take too much to start getting leads to other public information and put a profile of someone together for such a scam. But that also offers you some defense as well. Also, while not much help if you loose you job or family extortion like this is a pretty serious offense and credibly following through increases the risk of getting caught. Much better to threaten and then get a few people who are bullied into paying. And than just really means they have dug a hole even deeper and getting caught in a trap.

-- Modified on 1/20/2023 11:28:14 AM

...you can deny any knowledge of the hobby and stand by the fact that you would never participate in such a thing and you're just a random victim but unless your SO/employer is a complete fool, at the very least, a cloud of doubt will linger for some time.  If the extortionist has more info and can link you to the hobby, you may be exposed and now you will also be a liar in their mind, leaving you without a shred of credibility moving forward.

If they don't have further incriminating info, then worst case, you may loose your ability to participate until the cloud of doubt has evaporated.

Personally, I wouldn't call it a scam in the context that there is no real threat.  It's a shakedown, clear and simple.  The part about showing up is probably bullshit but what extent there is to your liability is only for the person at the other end of the shakedown to decide.  If you think risk is going away after you send them $1500, you are delusional, regardless of what they tell you.  Even if they are as convincing as the gal you sent your info too initially was, they will NOT throw away/destroy your info.  About the only thing that will happen when you send them money is that they will know they have found a source of money going into the future.  The only part they haven't figured out yet, is how much they can get out of you before you take this to LE.  At that point, you'll probably find that the source is coming from out of the country and you're fucked.  Best case scenario, its a crackhead, pimp or ex-boyfriend of the hooker and maybe they'll give up, get shot or OD at some point.

Best thing to do is ignore and hope they focus their attention on the next mark.  Otherwise, you've got 3 choices.  Go to LE (potentially lose job/family etc), pay them now and wait until they ask for more money or double down, engage and try to uncover who they are and then deal with that in choice #3, part 2.  Simple as that.

Two things I'm sure you have realized at this point.  Get a burner phone, NEVER host a provider in your home and NEVER give out personal information if you've got something to lose such as a job or wife.

The good old days are behind us folks.  

And never negotiate with terrorists.  If you do, you'll just get more of it.

He is claiming  to be  pimp - or as the government call them Traffickers.
Sue him if he tries to destroy  your life.
One more advice -  make sure you're  always `packing,'

I don’t understand why anyone would say you could lose your job for being a victim of a crime.  If that were true, it’s not a company you want to work for anyway.  A decent reputable company will help you in this type of situation, not hold it against you in any way.  Issues like this (shakedowns, blackmail, extortion, etc) come up all the time in large company employee assistance programs (like, multiple times per month, it’s quite common), and companies work to help the employee get through it and even help have the offenders brought to justice.  I should also mention that company employee assistance programs are almost always completely confidential.  Not even your boss would be notified about a non-work related personal issue.  Not even if you have a security clearance.  But even if you work for a shitty company that doesn’t have a program like this, it would be a clear case of wrongful termination if they fired you for being a victim of a crime.

If you do not have a provider that knows your real name there is another possibility: You were not targeted specifically and this person/group got FB, LinkedIn and easily found information for a bunch of people and blasted emails to them. That would be similar to the "I know your search history" or "I hacked your desktop" scams.  
As many here have said, if you pay once, they'll be back for more.
Really sorry this happened to you. Good luck!