uk Sexual violence & highly sensitive situations

What to do if…
someone claims to have an intimate video or webcam recording and threatens to share it

Produced and maintained by PanicStation.org Published: 24 July 2026 Last reviewed: 15 August 2026 Editorial policy UK guide

Short answer

Move to a place where you feel physically safe, stop responding to demands, and contact someone you trust. Do not pay or send more intimate material; report the threat to the platform and seek specialist support.

Do not do these things

Do not send money, gift cards, passwords, account details, or more intimate material.
Do not agree to meet the person or follow links they send.
Do not let a deadline in a threatening message force an immediate decision.
Do not threaten, confront, or try to track down the person yourself.
Do not forward intimate material to friends or relatives for advice.
Do not delete the threatening conversation before deciding whether to keep a record of it.
Do not blame yourself for sharing something consensually, joining a call, or trusting someone.
Do not remain alone with the situation if you feel unsafe or unable to cope.

What to do now

If you are in immediate danger, the person is approaching you, or you think you may harm yourself, call 999 or move to a safer place with another person.
Stop replying to the person. Mute or restrict the account while you record the username and report it, then block it when you are ready.
Tell one trusted person what is happening. Ask them to stay with you or help you work through the reporting options.
If it is safe, keep a record of the threats, username, profile address, payment demands, dates, and any contact details. Only take screenshots or screen recordings if you are sure everyone shown in any intimate image or video is 18 or over. If you are unsure, do not screenshot, record, or share the intimate material; preserve the surrounding text and account details instead.
Report the account and messages through the platform’s tools. Choose the closest available category, such as intimate-image abuse, sexual exploitation, blackmail, harassment, or non-consensual intimate content.
If you are 18 or over, contact the Revenge Porn Helpline. It supports adults in the UK whose intimate images or videos have been shared, recorded, or threatened without consent.
If you are currently 18 or over, are the person shown, were 18 or over when the image or video was created, and still have the intimate content, check whether StopNCII can create a digital fingerprint to help participating platforms detect matching uploads.
If you are under 18, tell a trusted adult where possible. You can use Childline’s Report Remove service for sexual images or videos of yourself and report online sexual abuse or exploitation to CEOP.
You can report the threat to your local police force by calling 101 or using its online reporting service. Call 999 if there is an immediate risk of harm.
Change the password for any account the person may have accessed, using a trusted device. Turn on two-step verification and sign out unfamiliar active sessions.

What can wait

You do not need to decide now whether the claimed recording is genuine, tell everyone you know, delete every account, make a public statement, or contact the person’s friends or family. Decisions about legal options, wider disclosure, or long-term account changes can wait until you have support.

Important reassurance

Threats like this are intended to create panic and pressure you into complying. Paying or sending more material may not stop further demands. Whether the recording is real, altered, or invented, the threat is not your fault, and specialist services support people facing this situation.

Scope note

This guide covers the earliest steps for immediate safety, support, platform reporting, police contact, and account protection. Later decisions about removal, legal options, work or family disclosure, and longer-term digital security may require specialist help.

Important note

This is general information, not legal, therapeutic, safeguarding, or other professional advice. The most appropriate reporting and support routes may depend on your age, where you live in the UK, the platform involved, and whether anyone is in immediate danger.

Additional Resources

About this guide

This guide was produced and is maintained by PanicStation.org using its published editorial process. Official and specialist sources are checked where relevant, and AI-assisted tools may be used for drafting, organisation, and consistency checks. The site operator remains responsible for publication, revision, and removal decisions.

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