The Federal Trade Commission sued Digital Forensics Corporation and CEO Dmitry Belkin in October 2026, alleging the company collected at least $60 million from sextortion victims by selling high-priced “Phase 1” and “Phase 2” response packages that often never contacted attackers, filed meaningful police reports, or stopped threats. A federal court temporarily halted the operation and froze assets while the case moves through the Northern District of Ohio.
What victims were sold
Sextortion schemes usually start with a message threatening to publish intimate images unless the target pays. Panic drives searches for help, and the FTC says Digital Forensics marketed sites such as CyberBlackmail911.com and BlackmailHelpline.com promising to trace perpetrators, communicate with blackmailers, and coordinate with law enforcement.
According to the complaint, packages ranged from about $1,499 to $20,000. Phase 1 was supposed to include location tracking, direct contact with the attacker, a written investigative report, and crime reporting. Phase 2 promised ongoing monitoring and escalated law-enforcement outreach. The FTC alleges that in many cases little of that work happened after payment.
Reviews and reputation tactics
The agency also accuses the company of suppressing negative customer reviews and seeding thousands of fake positive reviews to keep search results glowing. That matters for victims who Google a firm in the middle of a crisis and treat star ratings as a proxy for legitimacy.
On Oct. 6, 2026, the FTC filed suit alongside a request for emergency relief. The court granted a temporary restraining order and appointed a receiver, according to docket filings in case 1:26-cv-02615.
What to do instead of paying a “rescue” firm
Law enforcement and consumer advocates repeat the same sequence: do not pay the blackmailer, stop engaging, block the account, and report the crime. The FBI takes sextortion reports through tips.fbi.gov and the IC3 portal. If a minor is involved, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children operates the CyberTipline at missingkids.org.
If intimate images are already posted, the Take It Down Act requires many platforms to remove them within 48 hours of a valid request at no charge. If a site misses that window, the FTC asks consumers to file at TakeItDown.ftc.gov.
Spotting paid “help” that is another scam
Search the company name with “complaint,” “review,” or “scam” and read past sponsored results. Be wary of anyone demanding immediate wire transfers or crypto, or claiming a guaranteed takedown before reviewing your case. Legitimate victim services—hotlines, legal aid, and platform abuse teams—do not charge thousands upfront for a template email to police.
The FTC’s October consumer alert lists red flags tied to Digital Forensics specifically, but the pattern applies broadly: urgent sales pressure, secret payment instructions, and contracts that disclaim any refund if threats continue.
Why the case matters now
Sextortion reports have climbed across age groups, and AI-generated fake nudes lowered the bar for attackers who never possessed a real image. That increases the number of people searching for quick fixes online exactly when they are least likely to read fine print.
The Digital Forensics case is civil, not criminal, but a receiver now controls company assets while the court weighs a longer injunction. For consumers, the actionable lesson is unchanged: free reporting channels exist, and paid “cyber investigation” shops are a growing secondary fraud risk on top of the original blackmail.