A protection racket is an illegal scheme wherein a group or individual uses coercion to extract money or other benefits from individuals or businesses in exchange for "protection" from potential harm. Synonyms for protection racket include extortion, blackmail, shakedown, and intimidation. These terms all describe the use of fear or threats to force someone to pay for protection they don't need or for protection from harm that the racketeer may cause without such payment. Other related terms include racketeering, organized crime, and corruption, which all refer to societal ills that profit from criminal activity at the expense of those who are threatened or harmed.