SEXTORTION

Sextortion — do this now

The next hour matters. Don't pay. Don't delete. Screenshot. Call NCMEC. Stay with your kid.

Before you report — read this first

  • Do not pay. Paying does not make it stop.
  • Do not delete messages. They are evidence.
  • Do not engage further with the person threatening you.
  • Take screenshots now — their messages, their username, any URLs where images appear.

📞 Call right now

NCMEC — routes to FBI automatically1-800-843-5678 988 — if your kid is talking about suicide or self-harmCall or text 988 FBI Internet Crime Complaint Centeric3.gov

Do this, in this order

  1. Do NOT pay. Paying never stops it. Data shows payment increases demands within hours.
  2. Do NOT delete anything. Every message, image, profile — it's all evidence. Screenshot first.
  3. Screenshot everything with usernames, timestamps, and URLs visible. A second phone photographing the first screen also works.
  4. Block the account AFTER screenshots are saved. Do not reply.
  5. Call NCMEC (1-800-843-5678). One call routes to FBI. They've handled thousands of these. You will not be judged.
  6. Use Take It Down at takeitdown.ncmec.org to fingerprint the images — participating platforms (Meta, Snap, TikTok, Reddit, Pornhub, OnlyFans, Discord and more) will block further uploads. Free. Works on AI-generated images too.
  7. Stay with your kid. Sextortion suicides can happen within hours of the first threat. Do not leave them alone. Phone somewhere you can see. No access to medications, firearms, or vehicle keys.

Do not

  • Do not pay. Not partial. Not "just to buy time."
  • Do not contact the extortionist yourself. You will poison the case and may be impersonated.
  • Do not blame your kid. They are the victim of a crime. The shame is the weapon.
  • Do not delete the account yet. Preservation first, deletion later.
  • Do not wait until morning. Sextortion moves in hours.

What's happening

Financial sextortion is now primarily run by West African criminal organizations (Nigerian "Yahoo Boys") targeting American boys 14-17, and increasingly Southeast Asian networks targeting girls. Pattern: Instagram or Snapchat contact → flirtatious messages → request for an image → the moment an image is sent, immediate threats with a dollar amount and a list of the kid's followers, demanding Zelle / Cash App / Apple Pay / crypto.

NCMEC received 1.4 million online enticement reports in 2025 — 156% more than 2024. Cases end in suicide when the victim is left alone with the shame. Your presence in the next 72 hours is the single most protective factor.

Preserve evidence the right way

Screenshot with URLs and usernames visible. Screen-record scrolling if possible. Do not log out of the app on the kid's phone — lock with a temporary PIN you know. If the platform auto-deletes messages (Snap), enable screen recording and scroll slowly. Save to cloud, not just the phone. See the full evidence preservation guide.

For you, right now

You are not a bad parent. This crime is designed to work on smart, cared-for kids. What matters is the next 72 hours. Take shifts with another adult if possible. If you can't think clearly, text HOME to 741741 — Crisis Text Line supports caregivers too.

Print this page — tape to fridge
In crisis? Call or text 988 · Text HOME to 741741