Conversational Strategies of Cyber blackmail In Criminal Investigations: A Forensic Linguistics Study

This study investigates the conversational strategies employed in cyber blackmail cases from a forensic linguistics perspective. By analyzing authentic data from criminal investigations, the research identifies patterns in the language offenders use to manipulate, threaten, and control their victims in digital environments. The study focuses on various types of blackmail, including financial and sexual extortion (sextortion), examining how linguistic choices such as threats, commands, flattery, and manipulation are strategically used. Gender differences in the use of these strategies are also investigated. A qualitative and quantitative approach combines discourse analysis with statistical tools such as chi-square tests. Findings confirm that Directives/Commands dominate the strategy of cyber blackmail among males and female blackmailers, while compliments is the least employed strategies. Moreover, the analysis indicates statistically significant differences in strategy use between male and female blackmailers.