What legal steps can I take if an ex is making false accusations and blackmailing me for money?

Criminal Law

Liz

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There is a right to consider something called a suit for defamation. Making false claims like that would allow it. (18 U.S.C. § 1001) If she won't quit making contact, there is also a restraining order.

I understand your concern about your career. You could warn your work you're being harassed. If you get a restraining order, it can also prevent third-party contact as well. (18 U.S.C. § 2265)

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What to do if I’m being blackmailed?

Lexi, Chatbot

I understand that being blackmailed can be a very distressing situation. Have you already reported this to the authorities or considered doing so?

I haven’t. I’m not sure what to say or how that all works.

Lexi, Chatbot

Can you provide details about the nature of the blackmail, such as what is being demanded from you?

My ex-girlfriend wants her half of the deposit back after she abruptly moved out. I told her I couldn’t give it to her all at once, so now she’s contacting my family members and harassing them and threatening to go to my place of work and get me fired.

Lexi, Chatbot

Is there anything else the criminal lawyer should know before I connect you? Rest assured they'll be able to help with your blackmail situation.

Yes.

Liz

Hi there! My name is Liz and I’ve been an attorney for more than a decade, and I am here to assist with your legal concerns.

So I can best help, have you reported the harassment to the police?

Hi Liz, thank you for assisting me in this. I haven't. It happened this morning. We had a tumultuous relationship with lots of arguing and breaking up and getting back together sort of thing. I never thought she would go as far as contacting my family and telling them awful things about me and threatening to try and get me fired from my job. I had no idea how I was supposed to respond to that, so I'm hoping I could get some guidance from you.

Liz

Has she said what she was going to say?

Yes, she's saying that I've been degrading her and emotionally abusing her, and she said I pinned her down, caused her to trip, and she said I groped her without consent. None of that is true. Also, I work from home. So she also accused me of not getting my work done and slacking off all day.

So what I'm most concerned about is my career. I've only been working with them for two years, and I'm really worried what might happen if she actually does that. I don't know if giving her deposit back is even going to make her stop. It seems like some kind of revenge at this point. I'd like to know what steps I can take to protect my job if she tries something like that.

Liz

I understand your concern about your career. You could warn your work you're being harassed. If you get a restraining order, it can also prevent third-party contact as well. (18 U.S.C. § 2265)

So if I get a restraining order against her, she won't be able to contact my work? Also, what am I supposed to do about her accusations? How can I prove that she's lying? She's claiming that these things happened when we were alone at home.

Liz

Proving a negative can be hard, but the text messages can show she was using the false claims to threaten you.

Is there any way we could have a really quick call to just briefly go over a few things?

Liz

Apologies, these chats can't be converted into calls. I'm happy to help here.

Okay, I understand. Could you please answer my previous questions about the retaliation? I'm worried that she'll make up heinous things about me once she receives the restraining order. What should I do to protect myself?

Liz

With the restraining order in general, anything she says after it's been filed looks exactly as you said, retaliatory, which can cast doubt on anything she says.

Alright, so I'm in the clear to go ahead and get that process started? Anything I should keep in mind?

Liz

You could get it started. You also have the right to do things like block her to avoid being harassed.

Well, like I mentioned, I'm not worried about her harassing me. I'm worried about her harassing my employers.

Liz

Which is also considered harassing you, by proxy.

Hi, are you still there? Can you please answer my questions about what to do about her threatening to contact my employers? I'm very concerned about that.

Liz

Her contacting your employers can be considered harassment by proxy, which would also violate a restraining order. You could also inform them you're getting an order, so they know not to take her seriously.

I hope I was able to help! If you have any other questions, feel free to ask.

Liz

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