Sextortion & intimate-image abuse
If someone is pressuring a child for images or threatening to share them, act fast — and know the child is the victim, not the wrongdoer.
The child is not in trouble
If a young person is being exploited, they are the victim of a crime and should report it — even if they sent something, or accepted money or a game credit. They are not the one breaking the law.
What to do
- 1
Don't pay and don't comply
Giving in usually makes the threats escalate, not stop.
- 2
Preserve evidence — but not the image itself
Save usernames, messages, and dates. Do not save, copy, or forward a nude or sexual image of a minor; report it instead.
- 3
Report it
To NCMEC's CyberTipline and to the FBI (see below).
- 4
Stop the spread
Use Take It Down to help remove or prevent the sharing of an image of someone under 18.
- 5
Tell a trusted adult and the school
Especially if it involves classmates.
Where to report
- NCMEC CyberTipline — report.cybertip.org or 1-800-843-5678.
- Take It Down (for images of someone under 18) — takeitdown.ncmec.org.
- FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center — ic3.gov.
Authoritative sources
Related tools & guides
General information — not legal advice
This guide is general information to help you get organized, not legal or mental-health advice, and it doesn't guarantee any outcome. Laws and school policies vary and change. For your specific situation, consult a licensed professional or your state's education agency. In an emergency call 911; for a mental-health crisis call or text 988.