Getting blackmailed by a foreign company!

A foreign hosting & design company (from India) is trying to blackmail me by sending me threatening emails claiming that he will spam my clients, partners and other companies not to do business with me unless I transfer money to them.

What can be done about this?

 

You could email, clients and people you currently work with to warn them that this may happen.

Just my opinion, i wouldn't act upon it until you get some others as I'm no legal expert.

 

Who says your clients will open their spam, and listen to spam from an unknown company? lol..

 

I'd ignore them. Don't reply to them, don't encourage them. How would they have gotten your entire list of clients and partners anyways. As has been said, why would your clients listen to spam from an unknown source?

 

They have got my information and list of clients from my site and from testimonials.

 

Then just let your clients know that some one in India is trying to blackmail you and let them see the contents of the threats you have received.

Don't reply to the blackmailers.

 

You can also put up a notice on your site.

Btw try and send the Mumbai Cyber crime cell all the details, they may be able to help you. Their URL is here:

http://www.cybercellmumbai.com/

I believe this can also help:

http://www.naavi.org/cl_editorial_04/cyber_Crime_ps.htm

Use the phone numbers to call the officers and tell them in detail, as far as I know they will only check email if you tell them to (LOL) So just call them up and tell them about the scene and they will help you, I'd advise you to communicate with the Mumbai Cyber Crime cell, they are by far, the best.

Hope I helped

IT

 

But why are they threatening you? I guess you were availing some sort of services from them.

 

Not necessarily many times criminals try to shake down legitimate businesses simply because they think the owner might be an easy mark. This is no different than the mafia shaking down the corner bakery for protection money.

 

First, dont ever pay them anything, they will never stop if you do.
Then never respond to their emails. They will think that you are worried seeking a solution if you do.
You could send out something that looks like a professional press release to your clients telling about the matter and how it now is in the police hands and blah blah blah. This would make you look professional and dont loose credibility.

 

I agree with Correctus. I'd save all the correspondance and pass it over to the authorities in India.

 

Good thinking! And you could send it to prweb.com or whatever, and perhaps get some backlinks

 

name and shame them.... who are they.. ?

 

seriously, what company is it? (talk about unprofessional)

 

That "is" an important piece of information.

Nonetheless, ignore them completely (don't give any cause for legal recourse), advise your clients and ask them to forward any suspicious emails... if anything transpires - business acts of malice are a criminal offense and I am sure their Business Registry would be interested in knowing.

 

I agree with this completely. IMHO - Ignore them, don't take any action. What a joke...

 

Thanks for all the information and help.

I am going to contact the crime polices and inform them about this.

 

If its india... complain to Indian Cyber Crimes Department. They will put him behind bars for a few years

 

which company is that ?