"Send me money, or send me more, or I post everything." The message alone — before a single image goes anywhere — is already a crime in California.
Ava:
Michael, this is the one that arrives at 2 a.m. and makes a woman's stomach drop. An ex, or a stranger she chatted with, has an intimate photo — real or even claimed — and now the demands start: money, more images, don't leave me, stay quiet. Where does California law stand the moment that threat lands?
Michael Benavides, Esq.:
It stands with her, immediately. This is extortion, and the key thing every woman should hear is that the crime is the threat
— not the eventual posting. Under Penal Code § 518
and the sections that follow (§§ 519–524), obtaining money, property, or any act — including more images or silence — through a threat is unlawful. Even sending the threatening message
with intent to extort is itself a crime under § 523. She does not have to wait for the worst to happen for the law to apply.
Why it stacks up fast
Ava:
Everyone's instinct is either to pay or to panic. What's the right move?
Michael Benavides, Esq.:
Neither. Here's the guidance every professional gives, and it matters:
If you're being sextorted
Ava:
The shame is the weapon — and it's the thing the law refuses to honor.
Michael Benavides, Esq.:
Exactly. You did nothing criminal by trusting someone. The person making the threat is the one who broke the law — the moment they sent it.
Pink Data
helps California women respond to sextortion safely — preserving evidence, coordinating with law enforcement, and pursuing both the criminal and civil paths. If someone is threatening to release your images, reach out. Free, confidential consultation: 707-362-4166.
PINK DATA is a women's- and family-focused brand of the Law Office of Michael Benavides, Esq., California State Bar No. 270714. Ava is an editorial brand voice, not an attorney; all legal analysis is provided by Michael Benavides, Esq. General information about California law, not legal advice; no attorney-client relationship is formed. Verify current statutes. If you are in danger, call 911; the FBI accepts reports at ic3.gov; the National Domestic Violence Hotline is 1-800-799-7233; the Cyber Civil Rights Initiative operates a crisis helpline for image-based abuse. ATTORNEY ADVERTISING.
