A US-based digital forensics company is facing allegations that it collected at least $60 million from people seeking help with sextortion threats but failed to provide the assistance it promised.
According to a complaint filed by the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Digital Forensics Corporation (DFC), its owner Dmitry Belkin, and associated businesses allegedly misled victims who were already experiencing fear, emotional distress, and threats of having private images exposed.
Scam details
According to the FTC complaint, DFC collected at least $60 million between February 2023 and July 2026. The company allegedly charged customers between $1,499 and $20,000 for services advertised as helping identify blackmailers, stop threats, and support investigations.
The complaint claims that the company misrepresented its investigative capabilities and the results it could achieve. Among the allegations is that DFC used fabricated investigative chat transcripts to make customers believe its investigators were actively communicating with suspected criminals.
The FTC also alleges that the company reused location information to create the impression that it had successfully tracked down perpetrators. Such tactic could lead customers to believe that meaningful investigative work was being conducted when the evidence presented to them did not support those claims.
Besides this, the complaint argues that customers were pressured into purchasing extra services. The company reportedly used positive reviews that were not genuine to strengthen its reputation and made obtaining refunds difficult for dissatisfied customers.
“Instead of communicating with the sextortionist through the victim's account, defendants routinely change the victim's account settings simply to block the sextortionist's communications. Instead of obtaining investigative information, defendants fabricate chat transcripts,” the complaint said.
FTC’s response
According to the complaint, “Defendants falsely portray themselves as digital forensics experts, claiming they can track and identify sextortionists, prevent the spread of explicit material and coordinate with law enforcement to bring criminals to justice."
The FTC filed a lawsuit against DFC, Belkin, and several affiliated companies, accusing violations of consumer protection laws. A federal court temporarily halted the company's operations while the legal case proceeds. The agency is seeking action against the alleged deceptive practices.
The FTC also reported that the company advertised its services through search engines, video-sharing websites, and social media platforms, potentially reaching people actively searching for urgent help.
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