Instead, the blackmailer threatens to reveal something that’s thought to be harmful to the victim. Our use of blackmail today is different from the concept of extortion because the something of value isn’t demanded by a threat of inflicting bodily injury. Earlier, mal was a word used to indicate an agreement, lawsuit, bargain, or terms.
The word derives from male, in Middle English (tribute or rent). Think of “The Godfather” movie: business owners in an area were forced to pay mobsters protection money to leave them alone. How Blackmail Differs from Similar Crimes Like ExtortionĮxtortion and blackmail both involve the alleged offender’s practices of getting something of value from a victim by use of threats:Įxtort, from the Latin word exrortionem (twisting out), means the actor obtains something of value from another party by forcibly or wrongfully using power or authority.įor instance, a former police officer was charged with extortion because he was accused of submitting a false police report to protected allegedly stolen goods in exchange for several payments.īlackmail originates from the concept of money paid by farmers in Scotland to their clan chiefs. If the accused withholds testimony or refuses to act when he or she is called to testify, these actions also constitute coercion. To provide this necessary element, the alleged offender can threaten to perform a violent act, destroy property, or initiate an inappropriate government action. Coercion is necessary to prove extortion. The offender coercively demands something of value from another person. Regardless of whether the information is accurate or incriminating, it’s possible to be charged with blackmail if you threaten to expose someone else unless they meet your specific demands.Ĭontact experienced attorney Greg Tsioros to protect your rights >Įxtortion is considered a type of theft in Texas.
Blackmail happens when an individual threatens to reveal or expose information about the victim or his or her family that’s potentially humiliating, incriminating, or socially destructive unless a demand for services, property, or money is involved. In Texas, the concepts concerning blackmail and extortion are similar, but important differences exist between the two.
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