Presumably that depends on the laws of the jurisdiction in which the act takes place - and, of course - lawyers could probably argue for years which country's l

Presumably that depends on the laws of the jurisdiction in which the act takes place - and, of course - lawyers could probably argue for years which country's laws are applicable in this case. Adding to this, it may be a very shrewdly chosen scam, as the crime (in some jurisdictions) of engaging in a sexual liaison without having the necessary paperwork in order may be graver than the one of blackmail. Hence, even victims not giving in to the original scheme may find themselves unwilling or unable to report the scam to the authorities. Clever.