Sextortion Help: What to Do Right Now

If someone is threatening to share intimate images of you or your child, this checklist puts the official advice from the FBI, NCMEC and the FTC in order: what to do first, where to report, how to get images removed, and what the law says in your state. It runs in your browser and nothing is stored.

In danger or thinking about hurting yourself? Call or text 988, or call 911. Steps checked against official sources on October 25, 2026.

This checklist runs in your browser. It does not send or save your answers or add them to the page address. There are no text boxes and no uploads.

Who is this happening to?
What has happened? Tick all that fit (optional).

What to do, in order

Choose who this is happening to above to see where to report and how to get images removed. The steps below apply to everyone.

Right now

  1. Step 1

    If you are in danger or thinking about hurting yourself, get help now

    Call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, or chat at 988lifeline.org. If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 911.

    The Lifeline says it is available 24/7 and that conversations are free and confidential.

    Where this comes from
    • The 988 Lifeline is available 24/7/365. Your conversations are free and confidential. 988lifeline.org

  2. Step 2

    This is a crime, and it is not your fault

    NCMEC, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, says the blackmailer is to blame, not you: what they are doing is a crime.

    The FBI tells young people targeted this way: “You are not the one who is breaking the law.” It tells adult victims not to be embarrassed or afraid to contact law enforcement.

    If you are under 18, the FBI says you can go to a trusted adult or contact NCMEC, whose 24-hour hotline is 1-800-843-5678 (1-800-THE-LOST).

    Where this comes from
    • Remember, the blackmailer is to blame, not you. Even if you made a choice you regret, what they are doing is a crime. missingkids.org
    • You are not the one who is breaking the law. fbi.gov
    • Stop all interaction with the extortionist and do not be embarrassed or afraid to contact law enforcement. ic3.gov
    • If you’re not feeling ready to speak to the FBI, go to another trusted adult. You can also contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. fbi.gov
    • 24-Hour Hotline 1-800-843-5678 missingkids.org

  3. Step 3

    Stop responding

    The FTC’s advice is to cut off all contact: block the person, ignore their messages and stop communicating with them in any way.

    Where this comes from
    • Block the person. Ignore their messages. Stop communicating with them in any way. consumer.ftc.gov

  4. Step 4

    Do not pay and do not send anything more

    The FTC says not to pay, not to send any images, and not to give the person access to your accounts or devices.

    Paying does not buy safety. NCMEC says cooperating or paying rarely stops the blackmail, and an FBI warning says complying does not guarantee the content will not be shared.

    In financial sextortion of young people, the FBI says the offender often releases the material whether or not they are paid.

    Where this comes from
    • Don’t pay them. Don’t give them access to your financial accounts. Don’t send them any images. Don’t give them access to your devices. consumer.ftc.gov
    • Get help before deciding whether to pay money or otherwise comply with the blackmailer. Cooperating or paying rarely stops the blackmail. missingkids.org
    • Do not provide any unknown or unfamiliar individuals with money or other items of value. Complying with malicious actors does not guarantee your sensitive photos or content will not be shared. ic3.gov
    • the offender often releases the victim’s sexually explicit material regardless of whether or not they receive payment fbi.gov

  5. Step 5

    Block the account, but do not delete the messages

    NCMEC says to block the person but not to delete your profile or messages, because they can help stop the blackmailer.

    The FBI asks victims to keep the details: usernames, email addresses, the names of the sites or apps used, and other information about what happened. Screenshots of the threatening messages (not of any image) and of the account’s profile page are a simple way to keep them.

    Do not screenshot, save, download or forward the images themselves. NCMEC tells people not to send, share or download an image to use its removal service.

    Where this comes from
    • BLOCK the suspect but DO NOT DELETE your profile or messages because that can be helpful in stopping the blackmailer. missingkids.org
    • retain all information regarding the incident (e.g., usernames, email addresses, websites or names of platforms used for communication, photos, videos, etc.) and immediately report it to: ic3.gov
    • Please do NOT send, share, or download any image or video in order to submit to Take It Down. takeitdown.ncmec.org

Why the steps come in this order

The first steps stop the harm from growing and cost nothing: stop responding, do not pay or send anything more, and keep the messages (not the images). The FTC tells people to cut off all contact and block the person, and NCMEC, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, says to block the account but not delete the messages, because they can help stop the blackmailer.

Paying is the step people most want to take, and the official sources agree it does not work. NCMEC says cooperating or paying rarely stops the blackmail. In financial sextortion of young people, the FBI says the offender often releases the material whether or not they are paid.

Reporting and removal come next, and the right route depends on age. That is why the checklist asks who this is happening to before it shows where to report.

If the person in the images is under 18

The FBI tells young people targeted this way: “You are not the one who is breaking the law.” Its sextortion page adds that this holds even if a young person accepted money or a game credit. NCMEC says the blackmailer is to blame, not the child. A teen who is not ready to talk to the FBI can go to another trusted adult or contact NCMEC, the FBI says.

Report to NCMEC’s CyberTipline (1-800-843-5678, open 24 hours). Take It Down’s site says anyone being threatened with an image or blackmailed with it should make a CyberTipline report, and the FBI’s complaint site says crimes against children go to NCMEC. The FBI also takes reports at tips.fbi.gov and 1-800-CALL-FBI.

For removal, NCMEC’s free Take It Down service works with images taken before the person was 18, without anyone sending the images. NCMEC tells people not to send, share or download an image to use it. Adults can also use it for images taken when they were under 18.

Free removal tools, compared

The FTC says only platforms can take down intimate images shared without consent. There are three free routes, and they work differently.

ToolFor images takenHow it works
NCMEC Take It DownBefore age 18Anonymous; you do not send the images. Works on public or unencrypted platforms that agreed to take part.
StopNCII.orgAt age 18 or olderMakes digital fingerprints (hashes) on your device and shares only those with participating companies.
TAKE IT DOWN Act requestAny age, once postedA covered platform must remove the image, and make reasonable efforts to remove known identical copies, within 48 hours of a valid request.

The first two can be used before anything is posted: participating platforms use the fingerprints to help detect and remove matching images. Both work only with images you already have on your device; never download or ask anyone for a copy to use them. Take It Down asks you to use the device the images were originally taken on, and if you cannot, to make a CyberTipline report or call 1-800-THE-LOST. The TAKE IT DOWN Act duty applies once an image is published on a covered platform, and the FTC says it covers digitally altered images and AI deepfakes as well as real images. If a platform does not act within 48 hours, the FTC says to report it at TakeItDown.ftc.gov; the FTC uses those reports for enforcement and does not resolve individual reports. Our guide on how to file a Take It Down request covers what a valid request includes.

The FBI says victims should never have to pay fees for help or to have images removed. It has warned that for-profit companies charge exorbitant fees while law enforcement and nonprofits help for free, and that the cease and desist letters some of them sell are not legally enforceable. One warning sign the FBI lists: the company discourages you from contacting law enforcement.

In October 2026 the FTC announced a lawsuit against Digital Forensics Corporation, alleging it misled sextortion victims into paying at least $60 million by falsely claiming it would provide sextortion assistance services. Those are allegations in a lawsuit, not findings. Take It Down, StopNCII, the CyberTipline, the FBI and the FTC’s complaint site are all free.

Is sextortion a federal crime?

Yes, several federal laws can apply, depending on what the person did and the victim’s age. An FBI public service announcement lists extortion by interstate communications and, where a minor is involved, the federal child exploitation statutes. Which charges are brought is up to prosecutors.

Federal law (applies in every state)

  • Sending a threat to someone’s reputation across state lines (including online) to extort money or anything of value: up to 2 years in prison. 18 U.S.C. § 875(d)
  • Threatening to publish an intimate image to intimidate, coerce or extort: up to 2 years (3 if the person shown is a minor) for a real image, 18 months (30 if a minor) for a digital forgery. 47 U.S.C. § 223(h)(6) (TAKE IT DOWN Act)
  • Coercing or enticing a minor into sexually explicit conduct to produce images (subject to the statute’s interstate conditions): a first offense carries 15 to 30 years. 18 U.S.C. § 2251(a), (e)
  • Using the internet or phone to persuade, entice or coerce a minor into illegal sexual activity: at least 10 years, up to life. 18 U.S.C. § 2422(b)

Under the TAKE IT DOWN Act, threatening to share a real intimate image carries the higher maximum. The lower 18- and 30-month terms apply only to threats involving digital forgeries.

Sextortion and intimate-image laws in every state

State law adds to the federal law. Of the 51 jurisdictions we checked (50 states and DC), 26 have a law written for sexual extortion and 6 more have an extortion law that expressly covers demands for sexual images or conduct. In the rest, the general extortion, coercion or threat laws are what can apply.

51 make it a crime to share intimate images without consent. In 45, the intimate-image law we read covers AI-made or altered images, and 37 give victims a specific right to sue. Choose a state in the checklist above to see its law in full, with links to the official text.

Northeast

In the Northeast, 5 of 9 jurisdictions have a sextortion law or an extortion law that expressly covers sexual images or conduct.

StateSextortionSharing intimate images without consentAI-made imagesRight to sue
ConnecticutGeneral extortion law only: Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53a-192 (coercion); § 53a-119(5) and § 53a-122(a)(1) (larceny by extortion)Misdemeanor; felony if sent to more than one person online Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53a-189c; § 53a-189d (synthetic images)CoveredConn. Public Act 26-55 (2026), sec. 1 (synthetically created intimate images only)
MaineGeneral extortion law only: 17-A M.R.S. § 355 (theft by extortion)Class D crime 17-A M.R.S. § 511-ACoveredNone found
MassachusettsGeneral extortion law only: M.G.L. c. 265, § 25Up to 2.5 years; up to 10 years on a repeat M.G.L. c. 265, § 43A(b)CoveredNone found
New HampshireGeneral extortion law only: RSA 637:5 (theft by extortion); RSA 637:11Class B felony RSA 644:9-aCoveredRSA 507:8-j (civil actions for fraudulent use of deepfakes)
New JerseySpecific sextortion law: N.J.S.A. 2C:14-9.1 (sexual extortion); 2C:20-5 (theft by extortion)Third degree crime N.J.S.A. 2C:14-9(c); 2C:21-17.8 (deceptive audio or visual media)CoveredN.J.S.A. 2A:58D-1; 2C:21-17.8 (civil action for deepfake victims)
New YorkExtortion law covers sexual images or conduct: N.Y. Penal Law § 135.60 (coercion, third degree); § 135.61; § 155.05(2)(e) (larceny by extortion)Class A misdemeanor N.Y. Penal Law § 245.15CoveredN.Y. Civil Rights Law § 52-b
PennsylvaniaSpecific sextortion law: 18 Pa.C.S. § 3133Misdemeanor (first degree if a minor is shown) 18 Pa.C.S. § 3131Covered42 Pa.C.S. § 8316.1
Rhode IslandSpecific sextortion law: R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-64-3(e), (f) (adult victims); § 11-42-2 (extortion)Misdemeanor; felony if repeated R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-64-3CoveredNone found
VermontSpecific sextortion law: 13 V.S.A. § 2607 (sexual extortion)Up to 2 years; up to 5 years if for profit 13 V.S.A. § 2606Covered13 V.S.A. § 2606(e)

Midwest

In the Midwest, 8 of 12 jurisdictions have a sextortion law or an extortion law that expressly covers sexual images or conduct.

StateSextortionSharing intimate images without consentAI-made imagesRight to sue
IllinoisGeneral extortion law only: 720 ILCS 5/12-6 (intimidation); 720 ILCS 5/16-1(a)(3) (theft by threat)Class 4 felony 720 ILCS 5/11-23.5; 720 ILCS 5/11-23.7 (digitized depictions)Covered740 ILCS 190/10
IndianaGeneral extortion law only: Ind. Code 35-45-2-1 (intimidation)Class A misdemeanor; Level 6 felony with a prior conviction Ind. Code 35-45-4-8CoveredInd. Code 34-21.5-3-1
IowaGeneral extortion law only: Iowa Code § 711.4 (extortion)Aggravated misdemeanor Iowa Code § 708.7(1)(a)(5)CoveredIowa Code ch. 659A (Uniform Civil Remedies for Unauthorized Disclosure of Intimate Images Act), § 659A.3
KansasSpecific sextortion law: K.S.A. 21-5515 (as amended by 2026 H.B. 2537, Caleb's Law)Severity level 8 person felony; level 5 on a repeat K.S.A. 21-6101(a)(8) (as amended by 2026 H.B. 2479)CoveredNone found
MichiganSpecific sextortion law: MCL 750.213b (sexual extortion)Misdemeanor (93 days; 1 year on a repeat); deep fakes: misdemeanor (1 year), felony (3 years) if aggravated or repeated MCL 750.145e, 750.145f; 2025 PA 11 (intimate deep fakes)Covered2025 PA 11 (Protection from Intimate Deep Fakes Act), secs. 3 and 6
MinnesotaExtortion law covers sexual images or conduct: Minn. Stat. § 609.27, subd. 1(6) (coercion); § 609.3458 (sexual extortion)Gross misdemeanor; up to 3 years if aggravated Minn. Stat. § 617.261; § 617.262 (deep fakes)CoveredMinn. Stat. § 604.31 (private sexual images); § 604.32 (deep fakes)
MissouriSpecific sextortion law: RSMo § 573.112Class D felony; class C if the image is of a minor RSMo § 573.110Not mentionedRSMo § 573.110.8
NebraskaExtortion law covers sexual images or conduct: Neb. Rev. Stat. § 28-513(1)(g); § 28-311.08(5); § 28-518Class I misdemeanor; felony on a repeat offense Neb. Rev. Stat. § 28-311.08(4)-(5)Not mentionedNeb. Rev. Stat. § 25-3503 (Uniform Civil Remedies for Unauthorized Disclosure of Intimate Images Act)
North DakotaSpecific sextortion law: N.D. Cent. Code § 12.1-20-12.3Class A misdemeanor N.D. Cent. Code § 12.1-17-07.2CoveredN.D. Cent. Code ch. 32-49 (Uniform Civil Remedies for Unauthorized Disclosure of Intimate Images Act), § 32-49-02
OhioSpecific sextortion law: Ohio Rev. Code § 2905.11(D)-(E); § 2905.111Fifth degree felony (fourth with a prior); fabricated images: fourth degree (third with a prior) Ohio Rev. Code § 2917.211CoveredOhio Rev. Code § 2307.66
South DakotaGeneral extortion law only: SDCL § 22-30A-4 (theft by threat)Misdemeanor; felony if repeated, adult recording a minor, or fake images SDCL § 22-21-4CoveredSDCL ch. 21-67 (Uniform Civil Remedies for Unauthorized Disclosure of Intimate Images Act), § 21-67-3
WisconsinSpecific sextortion law: Wis. Stat. § 942.095 (sexual extortion; 2025 Wis. Act 48)Misdemeanor; felony for AI images, hidden recordings or minor victims Wis. Stat. § 942.09CoveredWis. Stat. § 895.439 (2025 Wis. Act 215)

South

In the South, 13 of 17 jurisdictions have a sextortion law or an extortion law that expressly covers sexual images or conduct.

StateSextortionSharing intimate images without consentAI-made imagesRight to sue
AlabamaSpecific sextortion law: Ala. Code § 13A-6-241Misdemeanor; felony on a repeat offense Ala. Code § 13A-6-240Covered2024 Ala. H.B. 168, Sections 5-6
ArkansasSpecific sextortion law: Ark. Code § 5-14-113Misdemeanor; felony if meant to cause harm, for pay, or repeated Ark. Code § 5-26-314 (as amended by Act 981 of 2025); § 5-14-139 (deepfakes, Act 827 of 2025)CoveredArk. Code § 16-118-119 (Act 827 of 2025, deepfakes only)
DelawareSpecific sextortion law: 11 Del. C. § 774Class A misdemeanor; class G felony if aggravated or repeated 11 Del. C. § 1335(a)(9)Covered10 Del. C. §§ 7803, 7806
District of ColumbiaGeneral extortion law only: D.C. Code § 22-3252 (blackmail, incl. (a)(4) as added by D.C. Law 22-308); § 22-3251 (extortion)Misdemeanor (180 days); felony (3 years) if published widely D.C. Code §§ 22-3052, 22-3053, 22-3054Not mentionedD.C. Code §§ 7-2161 to 7-2169 (D.C. Law 25-268), § 7-2162
FloridaGeneral extortion law only: Fla. Stat. § 836.05Misdemeanor; felony if repeated or done for money; altered (fake) images: felony Fla. Stat. § 784.049 (sexual cyberharassment); § 836.13 (altered sexual depictions)CoveredFla. Stat. § 784.049(7)
GeorgiaSpecific sextortion law: O.C.G.A. § 16-11-92 (adult victims); § 16-8-16 (theft by extortion)Misdemeanor; felony if repeated or posted to an adult site O.C.G.A. § 16-11-90CoveredNone found
KentuckySpecific sextortion law: KRS 531.125Misdemeanor; felony if repeated or for profit KRS 531.120; KRS 531.010(8)CoveredKRS 411.218 (sexual extortion); KRS 411.215 (failure to remove an image)
LouisianaGeneral extortion law only: La. R.S. 14:66 (extortion)Up to 2 years and $10,000; deepfakes 10 to 30 years La. R.S. 14:283.2; La. R.S. 14:73.13 (deepfakes)CoveredNone found
MarylandSpecific sextortion law: Md. Code, Crim. Law § 3-709Misdemeanor: up to 2 years / $5,000 Md. Code, Crim. Law § 3-809CoveredMd. Code, Crim. Law § 3-809(f)
MississippiSpecific sextortion law: Walker's Law, 2024 Miss. Laws ch. 443 (H.B. 1196)Misdemeanor; felony if repeated or for profit 2021 Miss. Laws ch. 462 (S.B. 2121)Not mentionedNone found
North CarolinaSpecific sextortion law: N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-202.7Class H felony; misdemeanor for a first offense under 18 N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-190.5ACoveredN.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-190.5A(g)
OklahomaExtortion law covers sexual images or conduct: 21 O.S. § 1040.13b(G); 21 O.S. §§ 1481-1483 (extortion); 21 O.S. § 1488 (blackmail)Misdemeanor; felony for gain or 3+ images 21 O.S. § 1040.13bCoveredNone found
South CarolinaSpecific sextortion law: S.C. Code § 16-15-430 (Gavin's Law)Felony if meant to harm or for profit; otherwise misdemeanor, felony if repeated S.C. Code § 16-15-332Covered2026 S.C. Act No. 131 (H.3049), Uniform Civil Remedies for Unauthorized Disclosure of Intimate Images Act
TennesseeGeneral extortion law only: Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-14-112 (extortion) with § 39-11-106 (coercion); § 39-17-1906 (threats with AI-made images)Class A misdemeanor; AI-image offense: Class E felony (Class C if it could facilitate violence or affect an official proceeding) Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-318 (unlawful exposure); § 39-17-1906 (AI-made intimate images)CoveredTenn. Code Ann. §§ 39-17-1903, 39-17-1904 (Pub. Ch. 466, 2025)
TexasSpecific sextortion law: Tex. Penal Code § 21.18 (sexual coercion); § 21.16(c) (threat to disclose intimate material)State jail felony; AI-made images: Class A misdemeanor, third-degree felony if repeated or the person shown is under 18 Tex. Penal Code § 21.16; AI-made images: § 21.165CoveredTex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code ch. 98B
VirginiaSpecific sextortion law: Va. Code § 18.2-59.1 (sexual extortion); § 18.2-59 (extortion of money or property)Class 1 misdemeanor Va. Code § 18.2-386.2CoveredVa. Code § 8.01-40.4
West VirginiaSpecific sextortion law: W. Va. Code § 61-8B-6 (sexual extortion; aggravated sexual extortion)Misdemeanor; felony if repeated W. Va. Code § 61-8-28aCoveredW. Va. Code §§ 55-20-3, 55-20-6 (Uniform Civil Remedies for Unauthorized Disclosure of Intimate Images Act)

West

In the West, 6 of 13 jurisdictions have a sextortion law or an extortion law that expressly covers sexual images or conduct.

StateSextortionSharing intimate images without consentAI-made imagesRight to sue
AlaskaGeneral extortion law only: AS 11.41.530 (coercion); AS 11.41.520 (extortion)Class B misdemeanor AS 11.61.120(a)(6) (harassment in the second degree)Not mentionedNone found
ArizonaSpecific sextortion law: A.R.S. § 13-1428Class 5 felony; class 4 if shared electronically; class 1 misdemeanor for threats or fake images A.R.S. § 13-1425CoveredA.R.S. § 12-741
CaliforniaExtortion law covers sexual images or conduct: Cal. Penal Code §§ 518, 519, 520, 524Misdemeanor; up to 1 year for a minor victim or repeat Cal. Penal Code § 647(j)(4)CoveredCal. Civ. Code § 1708.85 (real images); § 1708.86 (sexually explicit digital depictions)
ColoradoSpecific sextortion law: C.R.S. § 18-7-108 (threats for money); § 18-3-207 (criminal extortion)Class 1 misdemeanor; class 6 felony if it threatened safety C.R.S. § 18-7-107 (as amended by SB 25-288)CoveredC.R.S. § 13-21-1403 (real images; SB 19-100); § 13-21-1503 (SB 25-288; AI-made or edited depictions)
HawaiiGeneral extortion law only: HRS § 707-764 (extortion); § 707-766Class C felony HRS § 711-1110.9(1)(b)-(c)CoveredHaw. Act 195 (2026), H.B. 1682 (civil remedies for disclosure of intimate images)
IdahoGeneral extortion law only: Idaho Code § 18-2403(2)(e) (theft by extortion); § 18-6606(1)(c) (threats with AI-made images); § 18-6605(3)Felony; AI-image offense is a misdemeanor with felony tiers Idaho Code § 18-6605(3) (video voyeurism); § 18-6606 (explicit synthetic media)CoveredNone found
MontanaSpecific sextortion law: Mont. Code Ann. § 45-8-213(1)(e); § 45-5-625(1)(j) (child victims); § 45-5-640(1)(c) (AI-made images)Misdemeanor; felony on a repeat offense Mont. Code Ann. § 45-8-213(1)(d); § 45-5-640 (AI-made images)CoveredNone found
NevadaGeneral extortion law only: NRS 205.320 (threats/extortion); NRS 200.785Category D felony NRS 200.780; NRS 200.770 (definition)CoveredNone found
New MexicoGeneral extortion law only: NMSA 1978, § 30-16-9 (extortion)Misdemeanor; felony on a repeat offense NMSA 1978, § 30-37A-1Not mentionedNone found
OregonGeneral extortion law only: ORS 164.075 (extortion); ORS 163.275 (coercion)Class A misdemeanor; felony on a repeat offense ORS 163.472CoveredORS 30.833
UtahSpecific sextortion law: Utah Code § 76-5b-204 (sexual extortion); § 76-5b-204.1 (aggravated sexual extortion)Class A misdemeanor; felony if repeated; fake image of a child: felony Utah Code § 76-5b-203; fake images: § 76-5b-205CoveredUtah Code § 78B-6-2702 (Uniform Civil Remedies for Unauthorized Disclosure of Intimate Images Act)
WashingtonExtortion law covers sexual images or conduct: RCW 9A.56.110, 9A.56.130 (extortion) with RCW 9A.04.110(28)Gross misdemeanor; felony if repeated RCW 9A.86.010; fabricated images: RCW 9A.86.030CoveredRCW 7.110.020; fabricated images: RCW 7.110.025
WyomingGeneral extortion law only: Wyo. Stat. § 6-2-402 (blackmail); § 6-4-307(a)(iii) (threats with AI-made images)Misdemeanor; AI-image offense: felony Wyo. Stat. § 6-4-306; AI-made images: § 6-4-307CoveredNone found

What this tool does not do

  • The checklist does not collect, upload, store or send your answers. There are no text boxes, and nothing you choose is saved or put in the page address.
  • It does not remove images or contact anyone for you. Removal requests go through Take It Down, StopNCII or the platform, and reports go to NCMEC, the FBI or police.
  • It is not legal advice and cannot tell you what charges or claims fit your facts. The state summaries are general information about the statutes.
  • It does not cover law outside the United States.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I do first if someone is threatening to share my pictures?

Stop responding, do not pay or send anything more, and block the account without deleting the messages. Then report it: to NCMEC’s CyberTipline if the person in the images is under 18, and to the FBI at tips.fbi.gov or 1-800-CALL-FBI. A teen can also tell a trusted adult. If you are thinking about hurting yourself, call or text 988; if anyone is in immediate danger, call 911.

Should I pay the person?

No. The FTC says not to pay, NCMEC says cooperating or paying rarely stops the blackmail, and an FBI warning says complying does not guarantee the content will not be shared.

Will a teen get in trouble if they are being sextorted?

The FBI tells young people targeted by sextortion: “You are not the one who is breaking the law.” It says young people being exploited are victims of a crime and should report it, and that sextortion is a crime because it is illegal and wrong for an adult to ask for, pay for, or demand graphic images from a minor.

How do I get intimate images taken down?

For images taken before age 18, use NCMEC’s Take It Down. For images taken at 18 or older, use StopNCII.org. If an image is posted on a covered platform, the TAKE IT DOWN Act requires the platform to remove it within 48 hours of a valid request.

Is the “I hacked your webcam” email real?

The FTC says these mass emails demanding Bitcoin are a scam and the webcam claims are all talk. Do not pay. If the email shows one of your passwords, change it and consider changing others.

Is sextortion illegal in every state?

Federal law applies everywhere. Every state also has extortion or coercion laws, and many have a specific sextortion law or an extortion law that covers sexual images. The table on this page shows each state with a link to its statute.

Should I pay a company that offers to remove the images?

The FBI says victims should never have to pay for help or removal and warns about for-profit companies that charge exorbitant fees. The FTC announced a lawsuit against one such company in October 2026. Take It Down, StopNCII and law enforcement help for free.

Sources

Steps, reporting routes and federal law checked against official sources on October 25, 2026. State statutes checked against official legislature sites.

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