Extortion is defined as obtaining property through which means?

• A. Taking property by force
• B. Threats of present, imminent harm
• C. Extorting by bribery
• D. Obtaining property through threats of future harm or exposing information

Answer: (D)

Extortion means getting someone to hand over property by using threats about what could happen in the future or by threatening to reveal damaging information about them. The key is that the leverage comes from a future harm or from exposing information, not from immediate physical force. If the threat is about present, imminent harm, that falls more under coercion or duress rather than extortion. Taking property by force is robbery, and bribery involves exchanging something of value for influence, not threatening harm or disclosure. So obtaining property through threats of future harm or exposing information best captures what extortion is.