What Is Sextortion?

Sextortion is a form of blackmail. It is scary and it can move fast, but there is a way out, and if it is happening to you, it is not your fault. This page explains what sextortion is, how it usually works, and exactly what to do.

What sextortion means

The FBI defines sextortion as "coercing victims into providing sexually explicit photos or videos of themselves, then threatening to share them publicly or with the victim's family and friends." Thorn puts it in plainer terms for young people: sextortion is "blackmail or threats to expose sexual images to get you to do something you don't want to do, like send more photos or money."

Once someone has an image, or claims to, they use the threat of sharing it to demand more. As the FBI describes it, the person "threatens to distribute your private and sensitive material if their demands are not met," and often "demands additional sexual images, sexual favors, or money."

How it usually works

Sextortion often starts as something that feels normal. The FBI notes that many young people are drawn in when they "believe they are communicating with someone their own age who is interested in a relationship or with someone who is offering something of value." The contact frequently begins on a social media app, a game, or a dating platform, and the other person quickly pushes to move the conversation to a private messaging app.

From there, the person encourages sharing a sexual image or video. The moment they have it, the tone changes. They threaten to send the image to family, friends, or followers unless the victim pays money, sends more images, or does something else they demand. In some cases they do not even have a real image. The FBI has warned about offenders creating fake or manipulated images from ordinary photos taken from social media and using those to threaten people. Whether the image is real or fake, the tactic is the same: fear and pressure.

Who is targeted

Sextortion can happen to anyone, and it is happening a lot. In 2021 the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center received "over 16,000 sextortion complaints" with "losses exceeding $8 million," and those numbers reflect only the cases that were reported. Teenagers and young adults are frequent targets, and offenders often deliberately seek out young people on the apps and games they use.

The coercion is designed to make you panic

Sextortion works by making the victim feel trapped and ashamed. The threats often come with urgency, a countdown, or claims that the person already has a list of your contacts. This pressure is a tactic. It is meant to stop you from thinking clearly or asking for help. Offenders count on shame keeping you silent. The way out starts with breaking that silence.

The most important thing to know

If this is happening to you, you are not in trouble and you did nothing to deserve it. Thorn says it directly: the person doing this is "the one who is doing something wrong," and to victims, "you trusted someone and they let you down. Don't blame yourself." The FBI reminds victims they are "not alone as thousands are victimized by this scam." Reaching out for help is the strong move, not a shameful one.

What to do

• Stop responding. Thorn's advice is to take control and stop responding to the demands.
• Do not pay and do not send more. Paying rarely ends it. The FBI warns that "complying with malicious actors does not guarantee your sensitive photos or content will not be shared," and eSafety notes that blackmailers usually give up when they realize you will not pay. If you have already paid, stop.
• Save the evidence. Screenshot the threatening messages and the person's username, profile, and any account details, then block them. Do not save or forward sexual images of anyone under 18.
• Tell someone you trust. A parent, teacher, counselor, or another adult can help you carry this. You do not have to handle it alone.
• Report it. Report to the platform, and report to NCMEC at report.cybertip.org or 1-800-843-5678. In the US you can also report to the FBI at ic3.gov. If you are in immediate danger, call 911.
• Get images taken down. If sexual images of you from before you turned 18 exist, use Take It Down at takeitdown.ncmec.org, a free service that helps remove them without you uploading the image.

Sextortion feels like the walls are closing in. They are not. People deal with this and come out the other side every day. Stop responding, save what you can, tell someone, and report it. Help is real, and it is available right now.