ACTIVE CRISIS

A scammer is threatening to release photos of me — what do I do now?

Do not pay them. Do not send more photos. Do not delete your messages — you will need them as evidence. Paying or cooperating rarely stops the blackmail, and blackmailers usually give up when they realise you won't pay. It's not your fault. It can happen to anyone, and you're not alone. Your next step: screenshot everything, then block them and report it.

Do this first

Do not pay, and send nothing more
Screenshot everything, then block
Do not delete your messages or profile

If you are thinking about hurting yourself: in the US, call or text 988 — the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is free, confidential and available 24/7/365. In the UK and Ireland, call Samaritans free on 116 123. For an immediate threat to life in the US, call 911.

Stop all contact — and do not pay

Do this now: Stop all contact with the scammer. Do not reply to their messages. Do not send money. Do not send anything else.

NCMEC, the US National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, says: "Get help before deciding whether to pay money or otherwise comply with the blackmailer. Cooperating or paying rarely stops the blackmail." Australia's eSafety Commissioner gives the same advice: "If you're being blackmailed, don't pay or give the blackmailer more money or intimate content. Stop all contact with them."

The FBI's advice to victims: "Stop all interaction with the extortionist and do not be embarrassed or afraid to contact law enforcement."

Save the evidence before you block them

Do this now: Before you block the scammer, take screenshots of their messages and their profile. eSafety: "Taking screenshots or screen recordings, or photos of your screen with another device, is a quick and easy way to collect evidence. Include the threatening messages and blackmailer's profile."

Then block them — but keep everything. NCMEC: "BLOCK the suspect but DO NOT DELETE your profile or messages because that can be helpful in stopping the blackmailer."

Note down what a report will ask for:

The platform they used, and their username or profile
Any phone numbers or email addresses they contacted you from
When it started, and links to anywhere your images have been posted

Where do you report it?

United States: file a complaint with the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov. If explicit content of you has been stolen or posted online, the FBI asks you to use its dedicated form at ncii.ic3.gov.
United Kingdom: report to Report Fraud (England, Wales and Northern Ireland). If you live in Scotland, report via 101.
Australia: report to the eSafety Commissioner, which can help have the content removed or stop the threats.
Canada: report to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
Denmark: report the crime to the police at politi.dk.

If the person in the images is under 18: in the US, report to NCMEC's CyberTipline or call 1-800-THE-LOST (843-5678). In Canada, report to Cybertip.ca. In Australia, eSafety says the best way to get help is to report it to the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE).

Report the account to the platform

Do this now: Report the scammer's account to the platform where the contact happened. NCMEC: "REPORT the account via the platform's safety feature."

Who should you not pay for help?

Companies that charge to "handle" sextortion. The FBI warns of "for-profit companies offering sextortion victims 'assistance' services. These companies charge exorbitant fees, whereas law enforcement and non-profit agencies will provide assistance at no charge to victims." It adds: "The companies may also attempt to discourage victims from reporting the sextortion to law enforcement."

Can the images be taken down?

Taken when you were under 18: Take It Down is a free NCMEC service that can help remove or stop the online sharing of the images. You can remain anonymous.
Taken when you were 18 or older: StopNCII.org creates a digital fingerprint of the image directly on your device and shares only that fingerprint with participating companies.
In Australia: eSafety can help get the content removed.

What happens next?

eSafety: "Blackmailers usually give up when they realise you won't pay and they'll move onto their next target. But if they do share your intimate image or video online, you can report it to eSafety and we can help get it removed."

If anything is posted, report it to the platform straight away, and use the removal services above. In the UK, "taking, sharing and threatening to share intimate images without consent are against the law."

The FBI's words to victims: "Remember you are not alone as thousands are victimized by this scam."

Who can you talk to right now?

US: the Cyber Civil Rights Initiative's Crisis Helpline, 844-878-2274, for people in the US facing sextortion or non-consensual image abuse — free of charge, 24/7.
US: Crisis Text Line — text HOME to 741741 for free, 24/7 support from a live volunteer counselor.
US: the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — call, text or chat 988.
UK: the Revenge Porn Helpline, 0345 6000 459, supports adults aged 18+ (open 10:00 to 16:00, Monday to Friday).
UK and Ireland: Samaritans — call free, any time, on 116 123.
Australia: the eSafety Commissioner's sextortion guide lists where to get support.

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This page was last reviewed: September 30, 2026.
Drafted with AI assistance. Every figure and link on this page was checked against the official source cited for it. Not yet reviewed by a human editor.