The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) accused Digital Forensics Corporation of obtaining at least US$ 60 million from people seeking protection against extortion involving intimate images. The action, announced on Tuesday (13), states that the company charged thousands of dollars for investigations and security services that were often not performed as promised.
A federal court in Ohio ordered the temporary suspension of the activities of the company and its owner, Dmitry Belkin, while the case is analyzed. The complaint also involves several companies associated with the operation.
Digital Forensics attracted customers through ads on Google, YouTube and X, presenting itself as a specialist in identifying criminals, preventing the dissemination of intimate images and providing evidence to authorities. According to the FTC, the company exploited the fear of people threatened with public exposure to persuade them to hire high-cost services.
Initial packages cost between US$ 1,499 and US$ 20,000, distributed across five categories with different service timeframes. Court documents show that the standard sales recommendation was the US$ 4,999 plan, regardless of the victim's individual circumstances.
FTC points to fictitious reports, psychological pressure and manipulated reviews
The investigation describes a difference between the services advertised and the procedures actually carried out. The company promised to track the location of the extortionists, take over communication with the criminals, produce detailed reports and forward complaints to the police.
In practice, according to the complaint, employees often simply blocked the criminals on the victims' accounts, even though they had previously recommended that they not do so. The FTC also points to the fabrication of conversations and the reuse of geographic coordinates, especially from regions of Nigeria and the Philippines, to simulate investigative results.
After the first purchase, customers were pressured to buy a second stage of protection, supposedly intended for continuous monitoring of accounts and prevention of new threats. This phase normally cost another US$ 2,000 to US$ 5,000 or more. Although it was initially presented as necessary only in exceptional situations, the FTC states that the offer was made systematically to customers.
The pressure also appeared in sales calls. According to the documents, salespeople adapted their arguments to the victims' individual fears. Military personnel received warnings about possible professional consequences, while married people were warned that their family members could be involved in the threats.
Another component of the complaint involves online reputation. The company displayed a five-star rating based on 3,542 reviews, but the FTC maintains that part of these testimonials was fabricated. The investigation reports payments to Uber drivers who never used the services, as well as reviews produced by employees and customers pressured to post positive comments.
The agency also accuses the organization of hindering refunds, suppressing negative reviews and directing consumers to fake pages that imitated complaint channels.
Christopher Mufarrige, director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection, said that the company exploited consumers who were already facing a crisis, using fear to pressure them into paying for services not provided.
The action was filed on October 6 and publicly announced on the 13th. The FTC seeks permanent legal measures and financial reparations. The case remains ongoing, and the temporary suspension does not represent a final conviction of the companies or their responsible parties.
