Safety & privacy
Sextortion: What to Do Right Now
Sextortion is when someone threatens to share sexual images or video of you unless you pay them or send more. It's hard to know under the pressure of sextortion what to do first, so here's the short version: stop replying, don't pay, save the evidence, and report it to the platform and to the police (in the US, the FBI's IC3).
You are not in trouble, and this is not your fault. This guide is written for adults. If the images involve anyone under 18, go straight to Take It Down and the NCMEC CyberTipline.
Do these four things now
- Stop replying. Don't argue, negotiate, plead or explain. Silence takes away the reaction they're working for. You'll block them once the evidence is saved.
- Don't pay. Not even a small amount to buy time. Paying tells them you'll pay, and the demands usually grow.
- Save the evidence. Screenshot the threats, their username and profile link, any payment details they gave you (wallet address, gift card type, payment app handle), and the date and time. Keep the conversation.
- Report and block. Report the account on every platform they used, then block it. Report the crime to the FBI's IC3 in the US, or to your local police elsewhere.
Don't delete your accounts in a panic; that can destroy evidence. Set them to private or deactivate them temporarily instead.
If someone recorded you but hasn't made any demands, start with what to do if a stranger records you.
Why paying doesn't make it stop
Sextortion is often run by organized groups working from scripts, and a payment marks you as someone who pays. The pattern law enforcement and safety groups describe is consistent: the first payment is followed by a second demand, then another.
Paying also gets you nothing you can check. There's no way to confirm a copy was deleted, and the person has every reason to keep it.
If you've already paid, you haven't ruined anything. Stop paying now and include every transaction in your report: amounts, dates, wallet addresses and account details. That information helps investigators.
How webcam blackmail usually unfolds
Knowing the script helps you see that you were targeted by a routine, not singled out because of anything about you.
- A friendly, attractive stranger starts chatting on a video chat site, dating app or social network.
- They move quickly to flirting, and often to a private app.
- They show video that looks live but is often prerecorded, and push you to undress or perform on camera.
- The tone flips. They send a screenshot or clip, often with a list or collage of your friends, family or followers.
- They demand money fast, by gift card, crypto or a payment app, with a countdown.
The urgency is the tactic. They want you to pay before you have time to think or tell anyone. Many of the "live" partners are fakes; here's how to tell if a video chat is fake.
The email version: "I hacked your webcam"
Another kind of webcam blackmail arrives by email, claiming malware recorded you through your camera, sometimes quoting an old password to seem believable. These are usually mass-mailed bluffs that reuse passwords leaked in old data breaches. Don't reply or pay, change any password they quoted, and turn on two-factor authentication. Our guide to protecting your webcam from hacking covers the rest.
Where to report sextortion
| Where | What it's for | How |
|---|---|---|
| The platform | Getting the account removed and alerting moderators | Use the report button; choose harassment, threats or scams |
| FBI IC3 (US) | Reporting sextortion and online extortion to federal law enforcement | File online at ic3.gov |
| Local police | Threats, extortion, or if you feel unsafe | Call the non-emergency line, or your emergency number if you're in immediate danger |
| StopNCII.org | Helping stop adults' intimate images from being shared on participating platforms | Create a hash at stopncii.org |
| Take It Down and the NCMEC CyberTipline | Any images of someone under 18 | Use Take It Down and report to the CyberTipline |
Include the screenshots, usernames, profile links, payment details and timeline you saved. You don't need a lawyer to file these reports.
If it started on Omlet, tap the flag on your partner's video, pick the closest reason, add a note like "Recorded me and is demanding money," include the chat messages and press Report and skip. Omlet doesn't record or store calls, so any recording exists only on their side.
Stop the images from spreading
StopNCII.org is built for exactly this. It creates a digital fingerprint, called a hash, of your image or video on your own device, and the image itself never leaves your device. Participating platforms use that fingerprint to detect and block matching uploads.
- You need a copy of the image or video on your device to create the hash.
- It works on participating platforms, not the whole internet, so keep reporting any copies you find elsewhere.
- It's free, and you get a case number so you can check on it later.
For search engine removals and the reporting forms on major sites, see how to get intimate images removed online.
Look after yourself
Sextortion is designed to make you feel isolated and ashamed, because people who feel alone are easier to pressure. Telling someone breaks that. Pick a friend, partner, sibling or anyone you trust and tell them what's happening. Most people respond with more support than you'd expect.
- If you're thinking about hurting yourself, call or text 988 in the US to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, any time. Elsewhere, call your local emergency number.
- Step away from your phone once the evidence is saved and the reports are made. The threats are written to keep you checking.
- Expect the feelings to come in waves. Our guide on what to do after an upsetting online chat has practical ways to steady yourself.
Being targeted says nothing about your judgment. These schemes are run by people who do this all day, against people of every age and background.
Protect yourself going forward
- Hide your friends and followers lists on social media; they're what extortionists threaten to message.
- Don't move to private apps with strangers you just met on video chat.
- Skip anyone who rushes toward undressing or explicit content; it's the most common setup.
- Learn the wider patterns in our guide to video chat scams.