Probably Stolen Blackmailer: Weekly Demand, Pay or Refuse
The Blackmail starting perk brings a blackmailer every Monday (Days 8, 15, 22…) demanding 40 + the day number in Credits — 48 on Day 8, 55 on Day 15. Paying covers one week. Refusing or having them arrested ends the perk but costs −30 base standing with Lower Levels, Upper Levels, Security and Revolution.
On this page
Weekly demand
| Day | Demand |
|---|---|
| 8 | 48 Credits |
| 15 | 55 Credits |
| 22 | 62 Credits |
| 29 | 69 Credits |
| Any Monday | 40 + day number |
The blackmailer only appears if you took the Blackmail perk, a negative starting perk that gives 2 points.
Pay, refuse or report
| Choice | Result |
|---|---|
| Pay | Covers that week; the demand returns next Monday and keeps rising |
| Refuse | Removes the Blackmail perk; −30 base standing with Lower Levels, Upper Levels, Security and Revolution |
| Report / arrest | Same as refusing; Black Market standing is unaffected |
Losses are scaled by your difficulty’s reputation multiplier (halved on Cozy).
Which to choose
Over ten weeks the payments add up to roughly 600–700 Credits. If your standings are healthy, refusing once is cheaper in cash; if any faction is already low, a −30 hit could push it toward a failure ending, so keep paying until it recovers.
Planning advice derived from the formula, not a tested route.
Common questions
How much does the blackmailer want?
40 + the current day number every Monday: 48 Credits on Day 8, 55 on Day 15 and so on.
What happens if I refuse the blackmailer?
The perk ends, but you lose 30 base standing with Lower Levels, Upper Levels, Security and Revolution.
Sources & version notes
Community game-data research (static, not in-game tested). Sources reviewed November 1, 2026. This guide does not claim an independent in-game test.
- Nico Wiki: Blackmailer
Demand formula, schedule and refusal penalties.