Things to Do Before You Block the Scammer (Sextortion Checklist)

Before you block a sextortion scammer, do four things: save the evidence, stop sending money or images, report the account, and, if anything is already posted, request removal. Then report to the FBI, file with the FTC if a platform ignores you, and block them everywhere.

Screenshot the threats and demands with dates and times, the scammer's username and profile, and any payment records. This evidence powers every report that follows: the platform takedown, the FBI complaint, and any FTC action.

If you've been paying, stop. Paying almost never ends it, and "send one more and I'll delete everything" is a script. Each payment or image tells them the threat is working.

Report the account on the platform where they contacted you, using its extortion or non-consensual content pathway. If anything's already posted, report that specific post separately; covered platforms must remove it within 48 hours of a valid request under the TAKE IT DOWN Act. File an FBI report at ic3.gov. If a platform ignores a valid request, file with the FTC at takeitdown.ftc.gov.

Once your evidence is saved and reports are in, block the scammer everywhere and leave it closed. Re-engaging, even just to look, often restarts the cycle.

That was a reasonable thing to do while you were scared, and it's not your fault. Stop any recurring payments, add your payment evidence to your reports, and contact your bank or payment app's fraud team quickly.

Protect Privacy AI scans to detect non-consensual images and can submit removals and escalate for you. The Cyber Civil Rights Initiative runs a confidential IBSA helpline at 1-844-878-2274.