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uk Sexual violence & highly sensitive situations

What to do if…
someone threatens to share intimate images unless you pay, send more content, or meet them

Produced and maintained by PanicStation.org Published: Last reviewed: Editorial policy UK guide

Short answer

Do not pay, send more content, or agree to meet. If the person is nearby or you fear immediate harm, move to a safer place and call 999; otherwise stop contact and tell a trusted person or specialist service now.

Do not do these things

  • Do not send money, gift cards, cryptocurrency, banking details, passwords, or security codes.
  • Do not send another intimate image or video.
  • Do not agree to meet the person, even if they promise to delete the content.
  • Do not negotiate, threaten them, arrange retaliation, or try to access their accounts.
  • Do not download or forward the intimate content to prove that it exists.
  • Do not repeatedly search for copies or ask friends to search for them now.
  • Do not blame yourself for trusting someone or for anything you have already sent or paid.

What to do now

  1. If the person is nearby, knows where you are, is pressuring you to meet now, or may physically harm you, go somewhere you are not alone and call 999.
  2. If safe, save screenshots of the threatening messages, username, profile link, dates, payment request and contact details without downloading or forwarding the intimate content itself.
  3. Stop replying, block the account, and report it through the platform’s option for blackmail, threats, harassment, or non-consensual intimate images.
  4. Tell one trusted person what is happening. Ask them to stay with you, remain on the phone, or help with the next steps without contacting the person threatening you.
  5. Make your social-media accounts private, hide contact or friends lists where possible, change any password the person may know, and turn on two-step verification.
  6. If you are an adult now and were an adult in the image, contact the Revenge Porn Helpline. If you are shown in the image and still have the file, StopNCII may help participating platforms detect matching copies.
  7. If you are under 18, tell a trusted adult if you safely can. Childline can support you, Report Remove can help with sexual images or videos of you, and you can choose to report online sexual abuse through the CEOP Safety Centre.
  8. If you have already paid or shared banking information, send nothing more and contact your bank or payment provider immediately using its official app, website, card, or statement.
  9. You can choose to report the threats to your local police online or by calling 101. You do not need to identify the possible offence before asking for help.
  10. If you are in severe distress or thinking about harming yourself, tell the trusted person immediately and call 999 if you cannot keep yourself safe.

What can wait

You do not need to decide now whether to tell all your contacts, close every account, confront the person, pursue legal action, or report to the police. You also do not need to keep checking whether anything has been posted; a specialist service can help you consider reporting and removal options later.

Important reassurance

This is not your fault. Paying, sending more content, or meeting cannot guarantee that the threats will stop, and having already complied does not remove your options. You are allowed to end contact and seek support without defending or explaining yourself.

Scope note

This guide covers immediate safety, stopping further demands, securing support, protecting accounts, and limiting online harm. Later decisions about reporting, content removal, finances, safeguarding, or legal action may require specialist help.

Important note

This is general information, not legal, medical, financial, safeguarding, therapeutic, or other professional advice. Emergency services and specialist organisations can assess your circumstances directly.

Additional Resources

Closely connected guides that may be useful during the same situation or its immediate aftermath.

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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