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UK
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USA
What to do if…
someone threatens to share intimate images unless you pay, send more content, or meet them
Short answer
Do not pay, send more intimate content, give account access, or go to a meeting. Get to a safe place, tell someone you trust, and report and block the account when it is safe; call 911 if there is immediate danger.
Do not do these things
- Do not meet the person, even if they promise to delete the images.
- Do not send money, gift cards, cryptocurrency, more images, identity documents, passwords, or account codes.
- Do not give the person access to your phone, computer, financial accounts, email, or cloud storage.
- Do not argue, threaten them, or try to investigate or expose them yourself.
- Do not forward, repost, or create extra copies of the intimate images.
- Do not assume that paying or complying will end the threats.
- Do not handle this alone if a trusted person or specialist service is available.
What to do now
- If the person is nearby, is coming to your location, or is threatening immediate physical harm, move to the earliest safe place available and call 911. Do not go to an arranged meeting.
- Tell one trusted person what is happening and ask them to stay with you in person or by phone while you take the next steps.
- Do not follow the demands. Stop replying once you are safe to do so.
- If it feels safe and manageable, save the threatening messages and account details before blocking, without forwarding or downloading the intimate images.
- Report the threatening account through the platform’s safety tools, report any image that has already been posted, and then block the account when it is safe.
- From a device the person cannot access, change passwords for your email, social media, messaging, cloud storage, and financial accounts, turn on two-factor authentication, and review logged-in devices. Pause if account changes could alert someone who poses a physical danger.
- If the image or video was taken before you turned 18, use NCMEC’s Take It Down service, even if you are now an adult. If you were 18 or older in the content and are currently over 18, check whether StopNCII can help participating platforms detect copies.
- You may report the threats to local law enforcement or the FBI. If the situation involves someone who is under 18, you or a trusted adult can also contact NCMEC’s CyberTipline.
- Contact RAINN or the Cyber Civil Rights Initiative for confidential support and help considering your immediate options. If you might harm yourself or cannot stay safe, call or text 988; call 911 for immediate danger.
What can wait
You do not need to decide now whether to pursue legal action, tell everyone you know, close every account, search the entire internet, or confront the person. You also do not need to determine whether the threat is genuine before stopping contact and getting support.
Important reassurance
This is coercion, and it is not your fault. Sending an image voluntarily, replying, meeting the person before, or already paying does not make you responsible for their threats. Paying or sending more content may not stop the demands, but support and removal tools can help you regain some control.
Scope note
This guide covers immediate safety, account protection, platform reporting, removal tools, and specialist support. Later decisions about police reports, legal options, financial losses, or ongoing safety may require help from a qualified advocate, attorney, law-enforcement professional, or other specialist.
Important note
This is general information, not legal, financial, medical, therapeutic, or other professional advice. Laws, reporting procedures, platform processes, and available services may vary by state and circumstances. Call 911 if anyone is in immediate danger.
Additional Resources
- Consumer Advice — Image-Based Abuse: What To Know and Do
- Fbi — Electronic Tip Form
- RAINN — Hotline
- Cybercivilrights — Ccri safety center
- Take It Down — Ncmec
- CyberTipline Report — CyberTip Report
- Stopncii — Stop Non-Consensual Intimate Image Abuse
- 988 Lifeline — If you need emotional support, reach out to the national mental health hotline: 988.
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.