What is sextortion, and what to do if it happens

What sextortion is

Sextortion is a form of blackmail. Someone threatens to share a sexual or intimate image of a person unless they pay money or send more images. The image may be real, or it may be fabricated or altered with software, so the threat can be convincing even when nothing was ever shared.

It is illegal in most countries and is treated as a serious crime. The people behind it are usually adults, often working in organised groups, and they may be in another country.

How it usually unfolds

1. Contact starts quickly, often from an attractive profile or a new friend, on a game, a social app or a video platform.
2. The conversation moves fast to a private app. The person may suggest a video call or ask for photos.
3. An image is shared, or the child is tricked into sharing one.
4. The blackmail begins, often within hours. The person threatens to send the material to friends, family or school unless they are paid.
5. Demands continue, sometimes for money in gift cards or cryptocurrency, and sometimes for more images.

The pattern is designed to create panic and secrecy. That is why knowing the steps in advance helps, because a child who has been warned is less likely to freeze.

Why teenagers are targeted

Police and child-protection organisations report that teenage boys are among the most frequently targeted, although girls and younger children are also affected. Criminals look for young people who spend a lot of time online, who may be curious or lonely, and who are likely to feel embarrassed and keep quiet.

Ages 14 to 17 are a common target group in reports. Any child with a phone can be a target, so this is worth talking about with every child, not only teenagers.

Why children stay quiet

Children often fear punishment, losing their devices, or the embarrassment of telling an adult what they sent. Many believe they are the only one, or that paying will make the problem go away. Some are told by the criminal that no one will help them.

Knowing these fears helps parents respond in a way that makes the child feel safe enough to speak up.

What to do if it is happening

1. Do not pay, and do not send more images. Payment rarely ends the demands. It often leads to more of them.
2. Keep the evidence. Take screenshots of the messages, profiles, usernames and payment requests, with dates and times. Do not delete the conversation or the account.
3. Stop replying. Once the evidence is saved, block the account. Do not confront the person or threaten them.
4. Report it. Use the platform’s reporting tools. In the United States, report to NCMEC’s CyberTipline and to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center. In other countries, report to the national police or the child-protection reporting service. The help now directory lists services by country.
5. If images of a child under 18 have been shared, NCMEC’s Take It Down service can help request their removal from participating platforms.
6. Tell an adult you trust, and get professional support if the child is distressed.

If your child talks about self-harm or suicide, or you think they may hurt themselves, get urgent help now. Call your local emergency number if they are in immediate danger, and see the help now directory for crisis support.

It is not your child’s fault

The person blackmailing your child is the one committing the crime. Your child needs to hear, clearly and more than once, that they will not be punished for asking for help, and that you will deal with this together.

Your first reaction matters most. If the child feels blamed, they may hide the next message. If they feel supported, they are much more likely to tell you everything, which helps the report.

Helping reduce the risk

• Keep social and gaming accounts private, and encourage children to accept contact requests only from people they know offline.
• Turn on two-factor sign-in for important accounts, so a stolen password is not enough.
• Talk about sextortion before it happens, so the subject is not new when it matters.
• Agree that your child can always come to you, and say so often.

For support with a specific case, a school safeguarding lead, your local child-protection service or a specialist helpline can advise you. See the help now directory.