Editing Extortion (section)

==United States==
Extortion is distinguished from [[robbery]]. In robbery, whether armed or not, the offender takes property from the victim by the immediate use of force or fear that force will be immediately used. Extortion, which is not limited to the taking of property, involves the verbal or written ''instillation'' of fear that something will happen to the victim if they do not comply with the extortionist's will.  Another key distinction is that extortion always involves a verbal or written threat,<ref name="Lindgren1984" /> whereas robbery may not.  In [[United States]] federal law, extortion can be committed with or without the use of force and with or without the use of a weapon. Violation of many state extortion statutes constitutes "racketeering activity" under Section 1961 of the federal Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, 18 USC

In [[blackmail]], which always involves extortion, the extortionist threatens to reveal information about a victim or their family members that is potentially embarrassing, socially damaging, or incriminating unless a demand for money, property, or services is met.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Posner |first1=Richard A. |title=Blackmail, Privacy, and Freedom of Contract |journal=University of Pennsylvania Law Review |date=1992 |volume=141 |issue=5 |pages=1817–1847|doi=10.2307/3312575 |jstor=3312575 |url=https://chicagounbound.uchicago.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1088&context=law_and_economics }}</ref>

In the [[United States]], extortion may also be committed as a [[federal crime]] across a computer system, phone, by mail, or in using any instrument of [[interstate commerce]]. Extortion requires that the individual sent the message willingly and knowingly as elements of the crime. The message only has to be sent (but does not have to reach the intended recipient) to commit the crime of extortion.