Do not pay and stop replying, but do not delete anything. Save screenshots of the threats, profile and payment demands, block the account, and report it on cybercrime.gov.in or by calling 1930. Use StopNCII.org to help stop your images spreading on major platforms. Sextortion is a crime, and you are the victim, not the wrongdoer.
Key takeaways
- It is not your fault. Blackmailers rely on shame; reporting takes their power away.
- Do not pay: payment almost always leads to bigger demands, not deletion.
- Save evidence before blocking: screenshots, usernames, profile links, payment IDs.
- Report on cybercrime.gov.in or 1930, and report the account to the platform.
- StopNCII.org (adults) and Take It Down (under-18s) help block images from spreading.
Someone is blackmailing me. What do I do right now?
Take a breath. Sextortion is designed to make you panic and pay quickly. Slowing down is your first defence. Here is what to do, in this order:
- Stop engaging. Do not negotiate, plead or send anything more. Every reply tells the blackmailer you are frightened.
- Do not pay. Not even a small amount "to make it end". In almost every case, payment leads to further demands.
- Save evidence before you block. Screenshot the chat, the threats, the profile page and URL, phone numbers, UPI IDs or bank details demanded, and any links sent. Note dates and times.
- Block and report the account on the platform (Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp, Telegram, dating apps all have reporting tools).
- Lock down your accounts. Make your friends and followers list private, change passwords, enable two-step verification.
- Report the crime on cybercrime.gov.in (choose the category for women or child related crime, or report other cyber crime) or call 1930, especially if you have already paid.
- Use StopNCII.org if you are 18 or over and fear intimate images will be shared. If you are under 18, use Take It Down.
- Tell one person you trust. You do not have to handle this alone.
If you feel unsafe or have thoughts of harming yourself, call 112 now, or the Tele-MANAS mental health helpline 14416.
Is it my fault that this happened?
No. Sharing an intimate image with someone you trusted, or being tricked on a video call, is not a crime. Threatening to publish it to extract money or more images is. The shame belongs to the blackmailer, not to you.
Many victims in India are targeted by organised gangs who use fake profiles of attractive young women or men, start a friendly chat, move to a video call, and record or fake explicit footage within seconds. Others are targeted by an ex-partner who holds old images. Either way, the law is on your side, and police cyber cells handle these cases routinely and confidentially.
How does video call blackmail usually work?
The most common pattern in India runs like this: a friend request or WhatsApp message from an unknown, often attractive, profile; quick flattering chat; a sudden video call in which the other person appears undressed, sometimes from a pre-recorded clip; a screen recording that captures your face; then threats within minutes to send the clip to your family, colleagues or post it on YouTube, unless you pay.
Variations include callers posing as police or "YouTube officials" demanding money to delete the video, and fake "cyber cell" numbers offering help for a fee. Real police never charge money to remove content. Treat any such caller as part of the same scam and include their numbers in your complaint.
Often the blackmailer has your contact list only because your friends list was public. Hiding it, and warning close family in a calm, short message if you wish, removes most of the threat's power.
How do you report sextortion in India?
You have several reporting routes, and you can use more than one.
| Where | What it does | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| cybercrime.gov.in | Official complaint routed to police; women and child related crimes can be reported, including anonymously | Always |
| 1930 helpline | Quick report, especially for money already paid | If you paid or were asked for bank or UPI transfer |
| Local police station or cyber cell | FIR and investigation | Threats continue, an ex-partner is involved, or you want a formal case |
| Platform reporting tools | Removal of account and content | Always, after saving evidence |
| StopNCII.org | Creates a digital fingerprint (hash) of your images so partner platforms can block uploads | Adults whose intimate images may be shared |
| Take It Down | Similar hashing service for images of people under 18 | Minors, or adults whose images were taken when they were under 18 |
| Women helpline 181 / NCW | Support and guidance for women | Any woman facing threats or harassment |
With StopNCII, your images never leave your device; only the hash is shared. Under India's IT Rules, as tightened in 2026, platforms must act very quickly, within hours, on complaints about content showing nudity, sexual acts or morphed images of a person, so report the content directly to the platform as well.
Which laws apply to sextortion in India?
- Extortion: BNS s.308 (earlier IPC 384) covers putting someone in fear to make them hand over money or property.
- Criminal intimidation: BNS s.351 (earlier IPC 506) for threats to harm reputation.
- Voyeurism: BNS s.77 (earlier IPC 354C) where a woman's private act is captured or shared without consent.
- IT Act, 2000: s.66E (capturing or publishing private images without consent), s.67 and 67A (publishing obscene or sexually explicit material), s.66C and 66D (identity theft and cheating by personation through fake profiles).
- POCSO Act, 2012 where the victim is under 18; this is treated with the utmost seriousness.
You do not need to name the right sections yourself. Describe what happened honestly; the police decide the charges. Victims of sexual offences are entitled to have their identity protected.
What if you have already paid the blackmailer?
Stop paying now. Call 1930 immediately with the transaction details, UPI ID or bank account you paid to, and file the complaint on cybercrime.gov.in. Banks may be able to freeze money still in the account. Our guide on reporting cyber fraud and getting money frozen explains that process.
Paying once does not weaken your case. It is additional evidence of extortion.
What if the blackmailer is an ex-partner or someone you know?
When the person is known, go to the police with your evidence and ask for an FIR. Threats from a former partner can also involve stalking (BNS s.78) and, for married women, cruelty or domestic violence remedies. A lawyer can seek urgent court orders, and the women helpline 181 can guide you.
Do not try to break into their phone or accounts to delete images, and do not hire anyone who offers to "hack" the blackmailer. That is a crime in itself, can destroy evidence and can be turned against you. A lawful verified investigator can help you document a pattern of harassment or organise evidence for police, but removal and arrest are for platforms, police and courts. If a fake profile is impersonating you, see what to do about a fake account.
How can you reduce the risk of sextortion in future?
None of this means you did something wrong. These are simply habits that make you a harder target:
- Keep your friends, followers and contact lists private on every platform.
- Be cautious with video calls from new contacts, especially ones that start within hours of meeting online. Cover the camera until you know who is calling.
- Use two-step verification and unique passwords so old images in cloud storage stay private.
- On matrimonial and dating apps, verify the person before getting personal. Our guide on spotting fake matrimonial profiles lists the warning signs.
- In hotels, trial rooms and rented rooms, a quick check for hidden recording devices is sensible. See how to find hidden cameras.
Bottom line
Sextortion works only through fear and silence. Don't pay, save the evidence, block and report, use StopNCII.org or Take It Down, and file on cybercrime.gov.in or call 1930. Tell someone you trust. This is a crime done to you, and there is help available every step of the way. To reduce future risk, also check whether your phone has been compromised.
Sources & official links
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Laws and procedures change, and every case is different — speak to a lawyer about your situation. In an emergency, call 112.