Sextortion Scam - What to Do Scamming - Fraud 0 0 7 1 Mar 11, 2026 2026-03-11T18:09:43-05:00 Mar 11, 2026 2026-03-11T18:15:03-05:00 Online Threat Alerts (OTA) Sextortion is a serious crime and scam where perpetrators use or threaten to use intimate or compromising images/videos, whether real or fake (AI-generated), to extort money, additional images, or sexual favors from a victim. Scammers often gain a victim's trust online, sometimes pretending to be a romantic interest, before making their demands. Warning SignsAn online contact you don't know or a hacked account of a friend communicates with you in an unfamiliar way.The conversation moves very quickly to sexually explicit chat or requests for explicit images/videos.The person on the other end makes excuses for why their webcam isn't working, or sends a nude photo that they claim is of themselves to pressure you into doing the same.They use an urgent situation (e.g., "hacked account," "need money for an emergency") to pressure you into complying quickly.They might use personal details obtained from data breaches, like old passwords or even a picture of your house from Google Maps, to make their threats seem more real.What to Do If TargetedIf you are a victim of a sextortion scam, remember it is not your fault, and help is available.Report FraudDo not pay or respond to demands. Paying rarely stops the threats; it often encourages scammers to ask for more money.Stop all communication with the blackmailer immediately and block them on all platforms.Preserve all evidence (messages, usernames, emails, timestamps, bank details) by taking screenshots. Do not delete your accounts, but you can deactivate them temporarily.Report the incident to the appropriate authorities:Local Police: Contact your local law enforcement agency.Federal Authorities: In the US, report to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) or contact your local FBI office.For Minors: Contact the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) or use their Take It Down tool to remove images from participating sites.For Adults: Use the Stop NCII (Non-Consensual Intimate Image Abuse) tool to help detect and remove images from being shared online across participating platforms.Secure your accounts by changing all your passwords and enabling two-factor authentication (2FA).Seek support from a trusted person, friend, or family member. Confidential support and helplines are available to help you cope with the emotional harm.