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us Sexual violence & highly sensitive situations child sextortion • minor sextortion threat • online blackmail for nudes • threatened for money online • predator demanding explicit images • “pay or i’ll share” threat • “send more or i’ll post it” • instagram sextortion child • snapchat sextortion child • discord sextortion child • whatsapp sextortion child • online grooming threat • extortion using intimate images • cybertipline report sextortion • take it down tool minors • child online sexual exploitation • scared to tell parent online

What to do if…
your child says someone online is threatening them for sexual images or money

Short answer

Get your child safe and calm and make it clear they’re not in trouble. Do not pay or send anything—note the key account details safely, block/report the account, and report to NCMEC’s CyberTipline; if there’s immediate danger call 911, and if there’s an ongoing credible threat consider contacting your local police (non-emergency) as well.

Do not do these things

  • Don’t pay, send gift cards/crypto, or bargain “to end it” (it often leads to more demands).
  • Don’t punish your child or immediately confiscate/destroy the device as a first move (it can increase shame and lose key reporting details).
  • Don’t forward, download, or re-share sexual images of a minor.
  • Don’t get into a heated back-and-forth with the blackmailer; don’t threaten them—prioritize reporting and safety.
  • Don’t delete accounts/chats until you’ve captured the non-explicit identifiers you’ll need (usernames, links, payment asks, dates).

What to do now

  1. Stabilize your child and stay with them. Use simple language: “You’re safe. You’re not in trouble. We’ll handle this together.” If you fear immediate harm to your child or an imminent in-person threat, call 911.
  2. Check immediate risk. Ask if the person knows their name, school, address, or is trying to meet them. Any credible threat of physical harm or meeting = call 911.
  3. Preserve key details (focus on identifiers and threats). Write down or capture:
    • usernames/handles, display names, platform/app, profile links
    • time/date of threats and demands (money vs. more images vs. live video)
    • any payment instructions (gift card type, usernames, wallet addresses) If you capture screenshots for reporting, prioritise the threat messages, profile page, usernames, and payment demands. Avoid saving/copying/sharing explicit images of a minor.
  4. Report and block in the app. Use the platform’s “report” flow (sexual exploitation/blackmail) and block the account. Lock down privacy settings (limit DMs from strangers, restrict who can view stories, require approvals for friend/follow requests where possible).
  5. Make a report to NCMEC CyberTipline. File a CyberTipline report for suspected child sexual exploitation/extortion. After NCMEC’s review, the information in a CyberTipline report is made available to the appropriate law enforcement agency.
  6. If images may already be online, use “Take It Down.” Help your child use NCMEC’s Take It Down tool for nude/partially nude/sexually explicit images or videos taken before age 18 to help limit sharing across participating platforms.
  7. If money has been sent (or you’re about to): stop and contact the financial provider immediately. Call your bank/card issuer and ask about stopping/recalling the transfer and flagging fraud. Save transaction IDs/receipts.
  8. If you need same-day extra support, use local safeguarding channels. If peers from school are involved, or your child can’t safely attend school, contact the school counselor/administrator and ask for the staff member who handles student safety concerns. Share only the essentials (no images). If there’s a credible ongoing threat, consider contacting your local police (non-emergency) in addition to CyberTipline.

What can wait

  • You don’t have to decide right now whether to tell extended family, confront anyone, or post publicly.
  • You don’t need to do a deep device “investigation” tonight—start with safety, reporting, and stabilizing your child.
  • You don’t need perfect documentation; basic identifiers and what was demanded is enough to begin.

Important reassurance

These threats are designed to create panic and silence. Your child telling you is a protective step. Even if your child shared something, the responsibility lies with the person threatening and exploiting them—not with your child.

Scope note

This is first-step guidance to reduce immediate harm and connect you to specialist reporting/support. Follow-up actions (law enforcement contact, platform escalation, ongoing emotional support) can happen once the immediate pressure is down.

Important note

This guide is general information, not legal advice or a substitute for professional support. If a child is in immediate danger, call 911.

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