Sextortion: prepare and respond
The pattern, the conversation before it happens, and the exact steps if it does.
If threats are active right now, see our emergency guide first. This page is for preparation and understanding.
What sextortion looks like
Sextortion is when someone threatens to share sexual images of a minor unless paid or given more images. In 2026, most cases targeting US teens follow this pattern:
- A stranger (usually a woman, often fake) messages a teen boy on Snap, Instagram, or a game.
- A flirty conversation moves quickly.
- The stranger sends a partial nude and asks for one in return.
- Once the teen sends one, the stranger reveals they are part of a scam operation and demands payment (often via gift cards or crypto).
- The teen pays. More demands follow.
Increasingly, no real image is needed — AI-generated deepfake nudes are used to make the threat believable.
The single most important thing to tell your kid — before it happens
“If anyone ever sends you an image like that, or threatens you over one, come to me. I will not be angry. I will help you. We will solve it together. This is how these people work — they count on you being too embarrassed to tell.”
If it has already happened
- Don’t pay. Payment almost never ends the threats.
- Preserve evidence. Screenshot the profile, conversation, any dollar amounts — before blocking.
- Block and stop responding.
- Use NCMEC Take It Down at takeitdown.ncmec.org. The service assigns a hash to the image and asks participating platforms to take it down whenever it appears.
- Report to the CyberTipline at report.cybertip.org.
- Report to the FBI via ic3.gov and local law enforcement. Sextortion is a federal crime.
- Support your kid mentally. Shame and isolation are the real wounds. Loop in a counselor if needed.