uk Sexual violence & highly sensitive situations

What to do if…
sexual content or an advert is posted using your photos or contact details without consent

Produced and maintained by PanicStation.org Published: 24 July 2026 Last reviewed: 15 August 2026 Editorial policy UK guide

Short answer

Move to a safer place and call 999 if the post has led to threats, unwanted visitors, or immediate danger. Otherwise, record where the content appears, report the post and account to the platform, and ask a specialist service for help if it is not removed.

Do not do these things

Do not meet or confront the person you suspect, especially if they may know where you live or work.
Do not reply to strangers contacting you through the advert.
Do not pay anyone demanding money or promising guaranteed removal.
Do not repeatedly view, download, or forward the sexual content.
Do not ask other people to repost it publicly to identify who is responsible.
Do not delete threatening messages before recording the sender, date, time, and content, unless keeping them creates a greater safety risk.
Do not blame yourself for another person’s decision to misuse your photos or details.

What to do now

Reach a safer pause. If your home address, workplace, live location, or threats are included, tell someone you trust and avoid being alone where possible. Call 999 if someone is nearby, approaching you, threatening immediate harm, or creating another emergency.
Make a limited record without circulating the content. Save the direct URL, website or app name, profile name, date and time, and details of any messages or calls received. Take screenshots showing the post and account details if it is safe to do so.
Report both the content and the account through the platform or website. Choose the closest available category, such as impersonation, harassment, privacy violation, sharing personal information, or non-consensual intimate content.
If it is safe and unlikely to increase danger, block or mute the account after recording what you need. Adjust message, tagging, location, and profile-visibility settings only where those changes are unlikely to alert or escalate someone who may be targeting you.
Ask a trusted person to help if viewing the content is overwhelming. They can record links, submit platform reports, and screen incoming messages without reposting the material.
If you suspect an account was accessed, a password was disclosed, or your device may be monitored, use a safer device if available to review account security. Change affected passwords, enable two-step verification, and sign out of unfamiliar sessions only where doing so is unlikely to increase danger.
Contact Report Harmful Content if you have already reported the material to the platform and need further help with content involving impersonation, harassment, threats, or other online abuse.
Contact the Revenge Porn Helpline if you are 18 or over, live in the UK, and the material includes a real or synthetic intimate image of you. It can provide confidential support and help with reporting and removal, although removal cannot be guaranteed.
If you are under 18 and a nude or sexual image or video of you is online, use Childline’s Report Remove service. Report online sexual abuse or grooming concerns involving a child to CEOP. CEOP does not handle ordinary fake-account or account-hacking reports.
Contact the police if there are threats, stalking, blackmail, repeated harassment, an exposed address, or unwanted visitors. Call 101 or use the appropriate police force’s online reporting route when there is no immediate danger.
Filter unknown callers and messages if this helps you feel safer. Keep threatening contact available for reporting, or ask someone you trust to screen it for you.

What can wait

You do not need to decide now whether to make a public statement, identify the person responsible, change your phone number, leave social media, tell an employer, or pursue legal action. Focus first on immediate safety, recording where the material appears, reporting it, and getting support.

Important reassurance

This misuse of your photos or contact details is not your fault. You do not have to handle the reports, messages, or removal requests alone, and you can take one step at a time.

Scope note

This guide covers the earliest safety, reporting, account-security, and support steps only. Later decisions about continuing harassment, housing or workplace risks, wider removal efforts, or legal options may require specialist help.

Important note

This is general information, not legal, medical, therapeutic, or other professional advice. The most appropriate reporting and support route depends on what was posted, whether an intimate image is involved, your age when any image was created, and whether anyone is in immediate danger.

Additional Resources

About this guide

This guide was produced and is maintained by PanicStation.org using its published editorial process. Official and specialist sources are checked where relevant, and AI-assisted tools may be used for drafting, organisation, and consistency checks. The site operator remains responsible for publication, revision, and removal decisions.

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