Short version: Do not pay to make the threat disappear. Payment usually creates a new demand.
Why This Matters
Sextortion and blackmail posts are some of the most urgent posts on Reddit. People are scared, embarrassed, and under a deadline. That fear is what the offender is using.
The first goal is to slow the situation down. Preserve evidence, stop feeding the demand, secure your accounts, and report through the right channels.
Step By Step
- Do not pay, send more images, or negotiate.
- Screenshot the threats, usernames, profile URLs, payment demands, phone numbers, email addresses, wallet addresses, and platform names.
- Save the chat before blocking if you can do so safely.
- Report the account to the platform.
- If intimate images are involved, use available takedown or hash-matching tools when appropriate.
- Lock down your social media privacy, remove public friend lists, and secure your email and accounts.
- Report to law enforcement, FBI IC3, or NCMEC CyberTipline if a minor is involved or the content involves child sexual exploitation.
Checklist
- Threat screenshots
- Profile URLs and usernames
- Payment details or wallet addresses
- Phone numbers and emails
- Platform report confirmation
- IC3 or police report number
- Account privacy and password changes
Common Mistakes
- Do not send money.
- Do not send more images to prove anything.
- Do not threaten the offender back.
- Do not delete your account before saving evidence and reporting the profile.
When To Stop DIY
- Call 911 if there is an immediate threat of physical harm.
- If you are a minor or the images involve a minor, tell a trusted adult and report to NCMEC CyberTipline as soon as possible.
Simple Template
- Platform: Instagram / Snapchat / Facebook / WhatsApp / text / email.
- Offender identifier: Username, URL, phone, email.
- Demand: Money, images, account access, silence.
- Deadline or threat: Exact words and time.
- Evidence saved: Screenshots and exports.
- Reports filed: Platform, IC3, NCMEC, police.