Which offense is defined as obtaining money by threats?

Which offense is defined as obtaining money by threats?

• A. Robbery
• B. Burglary
• C. Extortion
• D. Fraud

Answer: (C)

Extortion is the act of obtaining money or something of value by using threats to coerce the victim. The defining element is the perpetrator’s use of a threat—such as to reveal embarrassing information, unleash harm, or cause other trouble—unless payment is made. This distinguishes it from robbery, which involves taking property directly from a person through force or intimidation at the moment of the theft; from burglary, which centers on unlawful entry to commit a crime regardless of threats used to extract money; and from fraud, which relies on deception to obtain money. For example, someone might demand payment by threatening to expose a private secret; the victim pays to avoid the threatened harm, which fits extortion, not the other offenses.

Extortion is the act of obtaining money or something of value by using threats to coerce the victim. The defining element is the perpetrator’s use of a threat—such as to reveal embarrassing information, unleash harm, or cause other trouble—unless payment is made. This distinguishes it from robbery, which involves taking property directly from a person through force or intimidation at the moment of the theft; from burglary, which centers on unlawful entry to commit a crime regardless of threats used to extract money; and from fraud, which relies on deception to obtain money. For example, someone might demand payment by threatening to expose a private secret; the victim pays to avoid the threatened harm, which fits extortion, not the other offenses.