FBI encouraging public to report extortion related to India
May 7—The FBI Sacramento Field Office is warning the public of an extortion scheme affecting individuals with familial or business ties to India, officials announced on Tuesday.
FBI officials are tracking several cases in which people were targeted for extortion and threatened with violence in the Sacramento office's 34-county service area.
Many of these cases are believed to be underreported, and the FBI encourages the public to report instances of extortion to ensure that those committing these crimes are brought to justice.
"We are deeply concerned for the safety and economic security of our neighbors of Indian descent who have been targeted," Acting Special Agent in Charge Mark Remily said in a statement. "Criminals are targeting hard working, law-abiding business owners and are using thug tactics to extort them in clear violation of the law. Timely reporting of attempted extortion to the authorities will help law enforcement to identify and disrupt this criminal scheme, ensuring the safety and economic security of the community."
Extortion — often referred to as blackmail — is the act of use of force or threats to compel another person into providing money or property. According to state law, extortion is a felony that carries a potential sentence of up to four years in jail or prison. The law does not permit the use of extortion as a means of collecting a debt, even a legitimate one.
According to FBI officials, in recent extortion attempts, subjects demanded a large sum of money and threatened physical violence or death if the demand was not met. Individuals who disregarded the demands subsequently became victims of violence, including targeted shootings at their homes and vehicles.
Threats of violence intended to extort victims for a specified sum can be reported to the FBI by submitting a tip online at tips.fbi.gov or calling 1-800-225-5324. Anyone who believes they are in immediate danger should call 911.
