The first thirty minutes
- Stop responding. Do not pay and do not send more; both lead to more demands.
- Do not delete the conversation. Screenshot everything: profile, messages, payment demands, the threats.
- Block the account after you have the screenshots, and report the profile to the platform.
- If you are under 18, tell a trusted adult now. You are the victim, not in trouble.
The next day
- Report to the police cybercrime portal. This is a crime almost everywhere, and coordinated groups are being prosecuted.
- If images were already shared, most platforms have a removal route for non-consensual intimate images; for under-18s, NCMEC's Take It Down service works internationally.
- Talk to someone. These schemes rely on isolation and panic.
Keep this evidence
- The scammer's usernames, phone numbers, payment addresses and the platform used.
- Dates and times of first contact and each demand.
Do not
- Do not pay, even once.
- Do not delete evidence.
- Do not send more images to "prove" anything.
Who to report to
Police cybercrime portal, and the children's helpline if the victim is a minor. Find the numbers and portals for your country in the reporting directory.
General guidance, not legal advice. If someone is in immediate danger, call your police emergency number.