Urgent help

Someone is threatening to share my intimate images. What do I do?

Stop replying, do not pay and do not send anything more. Save evidence, block and report the account, use StopNCII.org (adults) or Take It Down (under 18) to help stop the images spreading, and report it to the police. This is not your fault.

By the AltFTool team · Reviewed · 10 sources cited

Key takeaways

  • This is a crime and it is not your fault. You are not in trouble for being targeted.
  • Do not pay. Paying rarely ends the threats and often leads to more demands.
  • Save the evidence before you block: screenshots of the profile, messages and payment details.
  • StopNCII.org (18+) and Take It Down (images taken under 18) help stop images being shared on participating platforms.
  • You do not have to deal with this alone. Tell someone you trust and contact the police or a helpline.

First, take a breath

If someone is threatening to share intimate images or videos of you, it can feel like the world is ending. It is not. Sextortion is a known crime run by people who target many victims at once, and there are clear steps that help.

You did nothing wrong by trusting someone or sharing an image. The person threatening you is the one committing a crime. Police and helplines deal with this regularly and they will not judge you.

If you are thinking about harming yourself

Please reach out now. In the US or Canada call or text 988. Elsewhere, call your local emergency number or find a free, confidential crisis line at findahelpline.com. This situation can be resolved, and people want to help you through it.

How sextortion usually happens

Often a new match, sometimes using a fake profile, moves the chat quickly to another app, flirts intensely and sends explicit images, then asks for some in return or starts a video call that is secretly recorded. Soon after, they send screenshots of your friends or followers list and demand money, gift cards, crypto or more images, usually with a short deadline.

Some people are threatened by a former partner instead. Others receive "we hacked your camera" emails with no real images at all. The steps below help in each case.

What to do right now

  1. 1Stop replyingDo not negotiate, argue or explain. Every reply tells them you are worried and keeps the pressure on.
  2. 2Do not payPaying rarely makes them stop. It shows you will pay, and demands usually continue or grow.
  3. 3Do not send anything moreDo not send more images or videos, even if they say it will end things.
  4. 4Save the evidenceScreenshot their profile and username, the messages and threats, any payment details or wallet addresses, and the dates. Save links to profiles if you can.
  5. 5Block and reportAfter saving evidence, report the account on every app where they contacted you, then block them. Platforms can remove accounts and preserve data for police.
  6. 6Lock down your accountsMake your social profiles and friends or followers lists private for now, and change any passwords you shared.
  7. 7Tell someone you trustA friend, family member or helpline can help you think clearly and take the next steps.

Stop the images spreading

Two free services create a digital fingerprint (a "hash") of your images on your own device, so participating platforms can detect and block copies. Your images are not uploaded.

  • StopNCII.org is for adults (18 and over) worried that intimate images of them may be shared without consent.
  • Take It Down (takeitdown.ncmec.org), run by the US National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, is for anyone with images taken when they were under 18. You can use it now even if you are an adult.
  • Report any image that has already been posted directly to the website or app where it appears. Most platforms have a specific option for non-consensual intimate images.
  • In Australia, the eSafety Commissioner can help remove intimate images shared without consent. In the UK, the Revenge Porn Helpline supports adults and can help with removal.

Report it

Reporting helps police and platforms find the people behind these crimes. Where to report:

  • India: the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (cybercrime.gov.in), which has an option to report crimes against women and children, or call 1930. In an emergency, call 112.
  • United States: the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (ic3.gov). If the person in the images was under 18, report to NCMEC's CyberTipline.
  • United Kingdom: your local police on 101, or 999 in an emergency. Adults can contact the Revenge Porn Helpline for support.
  • Canada: your local police. If the person in the images was under 18, report to Cybertip.ca; NeedHelpNow.ca helps young people with removal.
  • Australia: the eSafety Commissioner (esafety.gov.au) and your local police.
  • Anywhere else: your local police, and the platform where the threats happened.

Be careful of paid "removal" or "recovery" services

Some companies charge victims large fees and promise to find the blackmailer, delete images or "hack back". The FBI and FTC have warned about services like these using pressure and misleading claims. The real help listed on this page, from police, NCMEC, StopNCII and national helplines, is free.

If you are under 18

You are not in trouble. Adults who threaten or trick young people into sharing images are committing a serious crime. Tell a trusted adult, use Take It Down to help stop the images spreading, and report to the police or the child-protection reporting service in your country (the CyberTipline in the US, Cybertip.ca in Canada, cybercrime.gov.in in India, eSafety in Australia, or your local police in the UK).

Frequently asked questions

Should I pay to make it stop?

No. Paying rarely ends sextortion. It shows the person you will pay, and demands often continue. Stop replying, save evidence, block, report and get support instead.

Will they really share my photos?

Nobody can promise either way, but many extortionists move on once a victim stops responding, because they are targeting many people at once. Using StopNCII or Take It Down and making your accounts private reduces the damage if they try.

Am I in trouble for sending the images?

Being targeted is not a crime. You are the victim. Police and helplines deal with this often and are there to help you, not to judge you. If you are under 18, you will not be in trouble for asking for help.

What is the difference between StopNCII and Take It Down?

Both create a digital fingerprint of your images on your device so participating platforms can block them, without uploading the images. StopNCII.org is for adults. Take It Down, from NCMEC, is for images taken when the person in them was under 18.

Should I delete the messages?

Save evidence first. Take screenshots of the profile, messages, threats and payment requests. Once you have copies, it is fine to block the account and remove the chat from your phone.

Where do I report sextortion in India?

Report it on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal at cybercrime.gov.in, which has a section for crimes against women and children, or call the 1930 cyber crime helpline. In an emergency, dial 112.

Someone emailed saying they hacked my webcam. Is it real?

These mass emails are usually bluffs sent to thousands of people, sometimes quoting an old password from a data breach to seem convincing. Do not pay or reply. Change any password they mention and report the email as a scam.

Sources and further help

Last reviewed . This guide is general safety information, not legal, medical or professional advice. If you are in immediate danger, call your local emergency number.

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