What is the Difference Between Extortion and Blackmail?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚The main difference between extortion and blackmail lies in the nature of the coercion used to obtain money, property, or services from a victim. Both extortion and blackmail involve threats, coercion, or manipulation to force the victim to engage in conduct against their will, but they differ in the specific methods used.
Extortion: Extortion involves the use of coercion, such as force, violence, threats to destroy property, or improper government action, to obtain property, money, or services from a victim. It is a broader range of criminal conduct that can involve physical or financial harm or official penalties. For example, extortion can occur when a government official obtains money to perform an official act, or when a police officer abstains from an arrest in exchange for cash.
Blackmail: Blackmail typically refers to a specific type of extortion in which a person demands payment under threats of revealing secret information, such as embarrassing details that can damage the victim's reputation, societal standing, relationships, or professional career. Unlike extortion, blackmail does not include threats of violence or force against a person or property. The fact that the information an offender threatens to reveal is true or accurate is not a defense.
Both extortion and blackmail are considered serious crimes, and punishment usually includes a prison sentence, probation, fines, and restitution.
Comparative Table: Extortion vs Blackmail
The main difference between extortion and blackmail is that extortion typically involves the use of coercion to obtain money, property, or services from a victim, while blackmail involves making a threat instead of coercion and is usually charged as a felony. Here is a table comparing the two:
| Aspect | Extortion | Blackmail |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Obtaining money, property, or services from another person through coercion | Using threats to reputation, usually involving revealing damaging information |
| Intimidation | Threats of physical harm, damage to property, or other harmful actions | Threats to reveal embarrassing, disgraceful, or damaging information about the victim |
| Legal Classification | Theft crime, often graded as a felony or a misdemeanor depending on the amount of money | A type of extortion, usually charged as a felony |
| Motive | Personal gain, including money, property, services, or actions from the victim | Personal gain, including money, property, services, or actions from the victim |
Both extortion and blackmail involve the use of intimidation and threats to compel another person to comply with the demands of the perpetrator.
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