Which term is defined as obtaining something through coercion, often involving threats?

Study for the Certified Bank Secrecy Act Professional Test. Use flashcards and multiple-choice questions with hints and explanations. Get exam ready!

Extortion is the act of obtaining something through coercion, typically by making threats. The defining feature is the use of fear, pressure, or leverage to force another person to part with money or property. For example, demanding payment by threatening to reveal embarrassing information or to cause harm illustrates coercion at work. This distinguishes extortion from benign or deceptive interactions: an innocuous message is harmless, trust exploitation involves manipulating someone’s trust without necessarily using threats, and scam awareness is about recognizing fraudulent schemes in general. So, extortion best captures the idea of coercion through threats used to obtain value.