What is extortion? Extortion comes in many forms, such as blackmail, threats, harassment, or coercion. In all cases, the offender attempts to obtain money, goods, services or other favours from the victim. Extortion also manifests itself in different forms. These include extortion involving kidnapping, extortion through the use of physical violence or extortion in which important data is taken hostage (ransomware). These are characterised by a moment of contact, at which time a threat is made or a demand is intensified.
Feel free to contact one of our specialists
Contactform 088-2986600 info@hoffmann.nl
Conversations with our specialists are always confidential due to our professional secrecy.
Explosives in the form of bomb letters
Explosives are a commonly used tool in extortion. Examples of explosives include bomb letters and hand grenades. Making or using explosives often requires specific knowledge and expertise. Thus, the risk is quite high that the explosive device will detonate in the logistics process, before it reaches its intended destination. And the extortionist would obviously want to avoid this. Similarly, self-fabricated explosives are often highly unstable. As a result, they detonate prematurely or fail to detonate at all. In most cases, explosives and bomb letters are a means of making a threat and they do not actually detonate. Consider, for example, hand grenades placed in or around hospitality venues. Another relatively common practice that has been seen is the sending of explosives without detonators. This allows the extortionist to further increase pressure or the threat level.
What to do in the event of extortion?
Is it wise to engage with the extortionist? That is a question faced by anyone who has fallen victim to email extortion, for example. What if you choose not to contact them? Will the extortionist then make good on their threats? Yet once you decide to engage with them, the game begins. Indeed, in practice, it appears that paying up once often automatically leads to ‘paying more’. In the process, extortion rackets can drag on for quite a long time, as there can be many months between contact moments. We can support and advise you.
Our approach to threats and extortion
If the extortion of your organisation is at stake, we can incorporate it into a crisismanagementplan beforehand. We run through a range of scenarios with you and draw up a plan of action in the event that it happens to your organisation. Does it involve the extortion of an individual? Then we include this in our VIP security service. Read more about our VIP security service on their dedicated pages.
Would you like additional information on extortion?
Do you have questions or need immediate assistance? Then please do not hesitate to contact us.
Our specialists are at your service.
Or contact of our consultants directly.
Contactformulier Afpersing