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us Sexual violence & highly sensitive situations sexual threats online • online sexual harassment • rejected someone threats • escalating messages • coercive sexual messages • intimidation after rejection • unwanted sexual contact online • stalking by messages • harassment on social media • threats in direct messages • threatened with sexual violence • persistent unwanted contact • online blackmail threats • threatened to leak nudes • nonconsensual intimate images • deepfake threat • doxxing threat after rejection • someone won’t stop messaging • safety after online threats • afraid to block them

What to do if…
you receive sexual threats online after you rejected someone and they keep escalating

Short answer

Stop engaging, lock down your accounts, save the threatening messages, and report to the platform — and to local law enforcement if you feel unsafe or the threats are specific.

Do not do these things

  • Do not argue, bargain, or keep replying to “calm them down”.
  • Do not send intimate images, money, gift cards, or personal info to make it stop.
  • Do not agree to meet in person or move the conversation to a more private channel.
  • Do not delete the messages if you might want help from the platform or police later.
  • Do not click unknown links or install apps they send (it can be a setup for account/device access).
  • Do not post about them publicly with identifying details (it can escalate risk).

What to do now

  1. Check immediate safety first. If you believe you’re in immediate danger or they’re trying to locate you right now, call 911.
  2. Stop contact (one-and-done). If it feels safe, send one final message: “Do not contact me again.” Then do not reply further.
  3. Block and tighten privacy (starting with your email).
    • Block them on each platform and on your phone.
    • Make profiles private, remove contact details from bios, and disable location sharing.
    • Turn on two-factor authentication for email and major social accounts; change passwords if you suspect compromise.
  4. Preserve the essentials (light-touch).
    • Save screenshots that include the username/handle, dates/times, and the threatening content.
    • Copy profile links/URLs and any message links if available.
    • Put it in one folder so you don’t have to keep opening the thread.
  5. Report it in the places that can act quickly.
    • Use in-app reporting for harassment/threats (and any “sexual harassment / threats” categories).
    • If threats are credible, repeated, or include finding you, contact local law enforcement. You can ask for advice even if you’re not sure what charge applies.
  6. If the threat involves intimate images (real or fake), get specialist help now.
    • Contact the Cyber Civil Rights Initiative (CCRI) Image Abuse Helpline: 1-844-878-2274 (free, 24/7) for guidance on urgent response and takedown steps.
  7. Get confidential support so you’re not handling this alone.
    • If you want to talk to a trained advocate (even if nothing physical happened), contact RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline (phone or online chat).
    • If the person is (or was) a partner or dating contact and this feels like coercion/control, consider contacting the National Domestic Violence Hotline for safety planning (including tech-safety).
  8. If it involves broader cybercrime patterns, use official federal reporting channels (optional).
    • If you think it’s part of a wider scheme (for example, sextortion patterns, multiple victims, or organized activity), consider filing a report with FBI IC3.
    • For exceptional circumstances involving broader federal concerns, you can also submit a tip via the FBI tips portal — but for personal safety threats, 911/local law enforcement is usually the fastest route.

What can wait

  • You do not need to decide right now whether you’ll “press charges” or take legal action.
  • You do not need to craft a perfect narrative — saving the messages and a basic incident list is enough.
  • You do not need to wipe accounts or delete apps today; focus on locking down access and preserving what happened.
  • You do not need to confront them or get an apology/closure.

Important reassurance

It makes sense if you feel panicky, ashamed, or stuck — threats like this are designed to hijack your nervous system and force compliance. You are allowed to stop responding, ask for help, and prioritize safety over “being polite.”

Scope note

This is first-steps-only guidance to stabilise the situation and reduce risk. If it continues, an advocate can help you think through next steps without you having to manage the details alone.

Important note

This is general information, not legal advice. If you feel in immediate danger, call 911. If you’re unsure whether to report, you can still reach out to an advocate confidentially to talk through options.

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