Do not pay, do not panic. Help is available, the process is confidential, and you have the right to protection.
If someone is threatening to share your private images or videos unless you pay, you are the victim of a crime, and there are clear steps to take. The most important one is this: do not pay, and do not panic. Paying almost never stops the threats, it marks you as someone who will pay and invites more demands. Help is available, the process is confidential, and you have not done anything that takes away your right to protection.
Sextortion is blackmail using sexual or private images, real or faked. It often starts with a friendly chat on social media or a video call that is secretly recorded, or with images shared in trust. The blackmailer then threatens to send the material to your family, friends or workplace unless you pay or send more. Increasingly the images are deepfakes, faked entirely, which is still a crime against you.
Stop engaging. Do not reply to threats, do not pay, do not send anything more. Every response tells the blackmailer the pressure is working.
Do not pay. This is the hardest step and the most important. Payment funds the next demand. It does not buy safety.
Save the evidence. Screenshot the messages, the profile, the threats and any payment demands. Note usernames and numbers. This is what lets the police act.
Report it. Call 1930 and file at cybercrime.gov.in, which has a dedicated path for these offences, including a route for crimes against women and children. You can report anonymously through the portal if you prefer. If you feel in immediate danger, call 112.
Lock down your accounts. Make your profiles private, tighten who can contact you, and block the blackmailer after you have saved the evidence.
Tell someone you trust. The blackmailer's power comes from your fear of exposure. Telling a trusted person or a professional breaks that hold and you do not have to carry it alone.
Threatening to share private images, and sharing them, are criminal offences in India under the new criminal code and the IT Act. The fact that you shared an image, or that the image is faked, does not make you the one at fault. The crime is the blackmail and the non-consensual use. The law is on your side, and the reporting process is built to protect victims, including with confidentiality options.
Young people are heavily targeted. If this is happening to a teenager, the response is support, not blame. Reassure them that they are not in trouble, save the evidence, and report through the channels above. Shame is the blackmailer's only real weapon, and removing it removes their power.
Should I pay to make it stop? No. Paying typically leads to more demands. Stop engaging, save evidence and report.
Can I report without my name being public? The cyber crime portal allows anonymous reporting, and there are dedicated protections for these offences. You can seek help without public exposure.
This is a difficult and frightening experience, and reaching out for help is the right move. If the distress feels overwhelming, please also talk to someone you trust or a professional who can support you.