FTC alleges Digital Forensics Corporation defrauded sextortion victims of $60 million

FTC Files Complaint Against Digital Forensics Corporation

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has filed a complaint against Ohio-based Digital Forensics Corporation (DFC), its owner Dmitry Belkin, and several affiliated companies. The complaint alleges that DFC operated a scheme from February 2023 through July 2026, collecting at least $60 million from sextortion victims under false pretenses. A federal court has issued a temporary order preventing DFC from conducting business pending a decision.

Deceptive Practices and Unfulfilled Promises

DFC allegedly lured victims, who were facing threats of sensitive material being shared, into paying between $1,499 and $20,000 for "Phase 1 services." These services purportedly included stopping attacks, pinpointing sextortionist locations, providing detailed investigative reports, notifying law enforcement, and sending cease-and-desist letters. However, the FTC states that DFC performed none of these actions.

Instead of engaging with sextortionists, DFC reportedly changed victims' account settings to block communications. The company also fabricated chat transcripts and reused pre-saved location coordinates, often for Nigeria and the Philippines, to mislead customers into believing perpetrators had been located.

Exploiting Victim Fears

DFC allegedly used a sales script tailored to exploit specific fears of victims. For instance, military personnel were warned of dishonorable discharge, while married individuals were told their spouses and in-laws could be targeted. The company falsely presented itself as digital forensics experts capable of tracking and identifying sextortionists, preventing material spread, and coordinating with law enforcement.