Consent obtained under false pretenses relates to extortion charges primarily through the element of coercion or deception used to obtain property or benefits from a victim.

False pretenses involve obtaining title or possession of another's property by knowingly making false representations with the intent to defraud. This means the victim consents to giving up property based on a misrepresentation of a material fact, but that consent is not truly informed or voluntary because it was induced by fraud.

Extortion, on the other hand, involves obtaining money, property, or something of value from a victim through threats or coercion. The key element in extortion is the use of threats—such as threats to cause injury, accuse someone of a crime, or disclose a secret—intended to force the victim to give compensation or perform an act against their will. The victim’s consent in extortion is thus obtained under duress or fear, not freely.

The relationship between consent obtained under false pretenses and extortion charges can be summarized as follows:

In some cases, consent obtained by false pretenses could overlap with extortion if the misrepresentation involves threats or coercion to obtain property or benefits. However, false pretenses focus on deception alone, while extortion requires a threat element.

In summary, consent obtained under false pretenses is related to extortion charges when the consent is induced by threats or coercion rather than mere deception. Extortion charges require proof of threats and intent to force the victim to give up property or perform an act, whereas false pretenses involve obtaining property through fraudulent misrepresentation without necessarily involving threats.

This distinction is important in legal contexts because it affects the nature of the charges and the required proof for conviction.