Sextortion: What to Do If Someone Threatens to Share Your Images
Sextortion is blackmail using sexual images, videos or messages. A criminal threatens to send them to your partner, family, employer or followers unless you pay or send more material. It targets clients and companions alike, and it has grown sharply in recent years, often run by organised groups. If it happens to you, you are the victim of a crime. The advice below is based on guidance from the UK's National Crime Agency and Police.uk, and the FBI in the US.
How it usually starts
- Fake profiles on dating apps or social media that quickly move the conversation to private messaging and ask for intimate images or a video call.
- Recorded video calls, in which the victim is filmed without knowing.
- Threats after contact with an ad, claiming to have your messages, call history or photos.
- Bluff emails claiming to have hacked your webcam, often quoting an old password from a data breach. These are usually empty threats.
- Former contacts who threaten to share images that were exchanged privately.
What to do: the five steps
1. Do not pay
Police advice is clear: do not pay and do not send more images. Paying usually leads to more demands, not fewer, and there is no guarantee the material will be deleted.
2. Stop all contact
Stop replying. Do not negotiate or threaten back. Block the person on every platform once you have saved the evidence.
3. Save the evidence
Take screenshots of the messages, the usernames, profile links, any payment details requested and the dates. Do not delete your account or the conversation before you have saved them; the evidence helps police and platforms.
4. Report it
- To the platform where the contact happened, so the account can be removed.
- To the police: in the UK, call 101, or 999 if you are in immediate danger. In the US, report to the FBI at tips.fbi.gov or 1-800-CALL-FBI. In the EU, contact your local police or use their online reporting service.
5. Stop the images spreading
StopNCII.org lets adults create a digital fingerprint (a "hash") of intimate images on their own device. Participating platforms use the hash to detect and block uploads, without the image itself ever leaving your phone. If the victim is under 18, use the NCMEC Take It Down service or, in the UK, the IWF and Childline Report Remove tool.
Look after yourself
Sextortion is designed to make you feel panicked, ashamed and alone. You did nothing wrong by having a private life. Talk to someone you trust, and if you feel overwhelmed, contact a support service. In the UK, the Samaritans are available on 116 123, and the Revenge Porn Helpline supports adults affected by intimate image abuse.
How to reduce the risk
- Be cautious with new contacts who quickly ask for intimate images or video calls.
- Do not share images that show your face together with identifying details.
- Use a separate work number and account, not linked to your personal contacts or social media.
- Review your social media privacy settings so that strangers cannot see your friends and family lists.
- Use unique passwords and two-factor authentication to prevent account takeovers.
Advice for companions
Companions are sometimes threatened with "outing" to family or landlords. The same rules apply: do not pay, save the evidence, report it, and contact a sex worker support organisation. In the UK, National Ugly Mugs can help you report incidents and decide whether to involve the police.
Remember
Most sextortion is about money, not about the images. Once criminals realise you will not pay, many simply move on. The faster you stop contact and report, the faster it usually ends.
Frequently asked questions
Should I delete my account?
Not straight away. Save the evidence first, then deactivate if you need to. Deleting too early can remove the evidence police and platforms need.
Will the police judge me?
Police forces treat sextortion as a serious crime and the victim as a victim. You will not be in trouble for having shared images as an adult.
Does StopNCII work on every site?
It works on participating platforms, which include several major social networks. It does not cover every website, so continue to report content directly where you find it.
