PanicStation.org
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uk Sexual violence & highly sensitive situations someone says theyre underage • says they are a minor • explicit images then blackmail • demands money after nudes • demands sexual favours • underage claim after sexting • says she is 17 • says he is 16 • age lie after photos • blackmail after explicit chat • sextortion after nude images • threatening to expose me • claims to be under 18 • asks for money now • asks for favours now • panic after explicit messages • worried i broke the law • stranger sent explicit images • underage scam threat • someone changed their age

What to do if…
someone claims they are underage after sending explicit images and now demands money or favours

Short answer

Stop replying, do not pay, and do not agree to any favour. Move the situation into a holding pattern: keep the messages, block further contact where you can, and get immediate support from a trusted person or a UK service if you feel overwhelmed.

Do not do these things

  • Do not send money, gift cards, crypto, sexual images, or any other “proof” or favour to make this stop.
  • Do not keep arguing about their age or try to “sort it out” by private messages.
  • Do not delete the whole conversation straight away if you may need platform, bank, or police help later.
  • Do not forward, re-upload, or show the explicit images around while asking for opinions.
  • Do not send copies of the images to yourself on other devices or accounts.
  • Do not let panic push you into confessing things, making promises, or handing over more personal information.

What to do now

  1. End contact now. Stop messaging, mute if you need a moment, then block the account once you have saved the basic details you may need later, such as the username, profile, payment request, and threats.
  2. Keep a minimal record. Take screenshots of the profile, threats, payment demands, usernames, dates, and any bank, wallet, or gift-card instructions. Keep the record private and do not re-share the images.
  3. Report the account inside the platform where this happened, using the platform’s own reporting route for blackmail, sexual coercion, or image-based abuse.
  4. Lock down your access points. Change passwords for the account involved and for your email, turn on two-factor authentication, and hide friend lists, phone number, and other contact details if the person can still see them.
  5. If you already paid or sent account details, contact your bank or card provider immediately and say you were pressured into a scam or blackmail payment. Ask them to review or stop further payments and secure the account.
  6. If the threats continue, you feel at risk, or you want formal help, contact your local police force on 101 or use your force’s online reporting route. If there is immediate danger, call 999.
  7. If an intimate image of you is at risk of being shared and you were 18 or over in the image, consider using StopNCII to help participating platforms detect and remove matching copies without uploading the image itself.
  8. If you are under 18, or the image is of you when you were under 18, use Childline’s Report Remove and consider making a report to CEOP rather than trying to manage this alone.
  9. Tell one steady person what is happening today. Use simple words: “Someone is blackmailing me online and I need help staying calm and not responding.”

What can wait

You do not need to work out right now whether the person is telling the truth about their age. You do not need to decide today whether to make a full formal report. You do not need to explain the whole story perfectly before getting support.

Important reassurance

This kind of threat is designed to create panic, shame, and urgency. Freezing, spiralling, or wanting to make it disappear fast is a very normal reaction. You are safer slowing this down than trying to fix it by yourself in the chat.

Scope note

These are first steps only. Later decisions about reporting, legal risk, image removal, or emotional support may need specialist help.

Important note

This is general information, not legal advice. In situations like this, the safest immediate approach is usually to stop contact, avoid any payment or favour, keep a basic record, and use platform, bank, police, or specialist support as needed. If you may want help later, keep screenshots of the threats and account details, but avoid storing, forwarding, or circulating explicit images any further.

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