Los Angeles Battles Record-Breaking Extortion Surge

Los Angeles, a city well-known for its flourishing businesses and glittering glamour, is now heading to a darker reality, a startling rise in extortion.

These incidents happening on the streets and through the digital world seriously impact the residents and business owners. For instance, one incident that stood out amid the surge of Los Angeles extortion is Daekun Cho’s case.

Special agents from Homeland Security Investigations and the LAPD arrested Cho, 38, in March at his Woodland Hills house. He now has federal charges for allegedly extorting “protection” money from Koreatown businesses.

Officers said that Cho’s extortion strategies focused on karaoke businesses and their hostesses called “doumi.” His tactics of coercion were more than just threats.

Extortion hits new high in Los Angeles https://t.co/3BnNLcyFOP

— Crosstown LA (@CrosstownLA) May 22, 2023

Prosecutors claim that he also used acts of violence such as carjackings, shootings, physical assaults, and kidnappings to accomplish his extortion plans in the Los Angeles area.

A Disturbing Rise in Extortion Reports

While not all extortion accusations have led to federal lawsuits, the reported number of cases in Los Angeles shows a worrying picture. Just in March alone, LAPD had recorded 57 extortion reports.

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This was the highest record since 2010, suggesting an increasing trend in extortion cases in Los Angeles, as a Crosstown report shows. Unfortunately, the real number of extortion cases in Los Angeles might be even higher.

Several victims are not reporting their experiences due to fear of revenge and insufficient trust in the law enforcers. In addition, starting in the middle of the past decade, extortion incidents in Los Angeles started growing.

Photo Credits: xtown.la

The LAPD recorded 320 cases in 2015, which is more than twice the last year’s records. The years after this witness the cases grew in an alarming consistency, with 456 reported cases last year, which surpassed the previous years’ records.

Surprisingly, the streets of Los Angeles aren’t the only places of extortion. There’s also a growing trend of internet-related or online extortion.

Reports show a major increase in these cases. It surged from 32 per quarter in the 2010s to a shocking 56 cases in just the first quarter this year.

Extortion in Los Angeles shows a distinct aspect; it isn’t limited to just income-defined districts. Reports prove that extortion incidents are all across the board, affecting various communities throughout the city.

Photo Credits: xtown.la

Who are the Targets?

Police data show that men appear to be more targeted in these extortion cases in Los Angeles. Out of the 662 reported incidents the officials filed from Jan.1, 2022 – Apr. 30, 2023, 74% of the victims were all male.

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Protecting yourself from Extortion

It is essential to learn these steps you can do to protect yourself from being a victim.

• Keep your privacy: If your personal information is more public, the easier it is for extortionists to target you.
• Be Cautious Online: This crime often starts with online scams, so be wary of unknown messages and emails
• Update your Security Software Regularly: Keep your security software up-to-date to help your devices be safe from cybercriminals.
• Be cautious of ‘Too Good to Be True’ Deals: Scammers often target victims with their promising deals of easy money.
• Report any Suspicious Activities: If you think that you’re being scammed for extortion, report it to your local officers immediately.

Trust-building actions with law enforcers, public awareness, and enforcing digital safety methods are possible steps toward combatting these threats and making Los Angeles a safer environment.