What Parents Need to Know about Sextortion

Sextortion is a serious crime, but it is manageable with proper support and guidance. If you are a victim of child sextortion, please let your parents or a trusted adult know right away. And if you are a parent whose child is receiving threats from a sextortionist, make sure your child knows that you will support and stand by them no matter what.

If you are a minor or your child is the target of sextortion, we recommend taking the following steps right away:

Do not panic,
Do not pay the sextortionist,
Save as much evidence of the sextortion as you can,
Use NCMEC’s free “Take It Down” tool,
Set all online accounts to private,
Report the sextortion to proper authorities, and
Reach out to an experienced attorney.

At Minc Law, we are well-versed in helping minors navigate situations like sextortion and online harassment. It can be extremely isolating to be targeted by a sextortionist, which is why it is helpful to have an experienced internet attorney by your side. We know how to reduce the likelihood of the release of harmful images and videos, communicate with the sextortionist on your behalf, and work with law enforcement to end the harassment quickly and discreetly.

In this article, we provide actionable tips for dealing with sextortion if you are a minor or if you are a parent helping your child navigate such online harassment.

Understanding Sextortion

Sextortion occurs when a criminal obtains private and explicit information about someone, then threatens to make it public unless the victim gives in to their demands. Sextortionists most commonly demand money, sexual favors, or more explicit images. These perpetrators count on their victims to panic and immediately comply with their demands.

The Scope of the Problem

Sextortion targeting minors has increased dramatically in recent years:

The FBI received over 55,000 sextortion reports in 2024, more than double the number from three years prior
NCMEC received over 33,000 child sextortion cases in 2024, with 2025 reports continuing to surge
Research indicates that approximately one in five teens have experienced some form of sextortion

How Sextortion Scams Happen

Sextortion can occur on any platform where people communicate online, including:

Social media platforms like Instagram, Snapchat, and Facebook
Messaging apps like WhatsApp, Google Chat, and Skype
Video games with chat features (Minecraft, Roblox)
Dating apps and websites

Scammers typically pretend to be another teenager interested in a relationship. They research their victim’s social media, quickly move conversations from friendly to sexual, and request explicit images or videos. Once they obtain content, they threaten to distribute it unless the victim pays money (often via gift cards or cryptocurrency) or provides additional content.

Many sextortionists operate from international locations, particularly Nigeria, Ivory Coast, the Philippines, and Morocco, making prosecution challenging.

Warning Signs of Sextortion

A new online “friend” quickly makes conversations personal, flirtatious, or sexual
Requests to move conversations to private messaging apps immediately
Claims to be a modeling scout or offers money/gifts for images
Profile shows mutual friends but your child doesn’t recognize them in real life
Threats to create fake explicit images or videos

Immediate Steps to Take

1. Stay Calm and Provide Support

If you are a minor: Tell a trusted adult immediately. You are not in trouble, and this is not your fault. If you are considering self-harm, call 988 or text HOME to 741741 right away.

If you are a parent: One of the most important predictors of your child’s recovery is whether they have support. Reassure your child that they are not in trouble and you will handle this together. The scammer wants to isolate your child. Don’t let that happen.

2. Do Not Pay or Engage Further

Paying the sextortionist will not make the problem go away. It typically encourages them to demand more. Stop all communication with the scammer immediately.

3. Preserve All Evidence

Do not delete anything. Take screenshots of:

All messages and communications
The scammer’s profile, username, and email addresses
Payment receipts (if any were sent)
Any identifying information

This evidence is crucial for law enforcement and content removal efforts.

4. Use NCMEC’s Free “Take It Down” Tool

The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children offers a free service at takeitdown.ncmec.org that can help remove explicit images from the internet. The tool creates a unique digital fingerprint (hash) of the image. The image never leaves your device. Participating platforms (Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and others) use this hash to locate and remove the content. You remain anonymous throughout the process.

5. Secure All Online Accounts

Set all social media accounts to maximum privacy settings
Decline friend requests from strangers
Delete or disable unused accounts
Set up a Google Alert for your child’s name to monitor for future attacks

6. Report to Authorities

CyberTipline: Report at CyberTipline.org or call 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678)

FBI: File a report at ic3.gov or call 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324)

Platform Reporting: Report the account to the platform where harassment occurred

7. Contact an Experienced Sextortion Attorney

Each state prosecutes sextortion differently, under blackmail, extortion, cyberstalking, or revenge porn laws. Because sextortionists typically operate internationally, legal navigation is complex.

At Minc Law, we communicate with perpetrators on your behalf, work to remove content and de-index it from search engines, coordinate with law enforcement, and resolve situations swiftly and discreetly.

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Important Information for Parents

Your Child Will Not Get in Trouble

Even if your child took the photos themselves, sent them willingly, or accepted money, they are the victim, not the criminal. The sextortionist committed the crime by obtaining explicit content of a minor and using it for extortion.

Most Sextortionists Don’t Follow Through

Scammers rarely publish content because doing so eliminates their leverage and attracts law enforcement attention. Most simply move on to another victim if demands aren’t met.

Why Children Don’t Ask for Help

Victims feel ashamed, embarrassed, and afraid of getting in trouble. Sextortionists deliberately tell children they’ve created child pornography and could face legal consequences. The scammer’s goal is isolation, which is why parental support is critical.

Mental Health Matters

Sextortion can cause PTSD, anxiety, depression, and thoughts of self-harm. Monitor your child’s emotional well-being and seek professional counseling if needed. Mental health support is just as important as legal assistance.

Crisis Resources (24/7):

988 Suicide Prevention Helpline
Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741
NCMEC: 1-800-THE-LOST

Prevention and Education

Talk to Your Children Early

Have open discussions about online safety before children have unsupervised internet access. Key points to cover:

Online “friends” may not be who they claim to be
Once you send a photo or video, you lose control over it
If conversations turn sexual quickly, that’s a red flag
Coming to you for help will never result in punishment

Set Appropriate Boundaries

Keep devices out of bedrooms after bedtime
Use family-friendly internet filters
Occasionally review your child’s online activity
Discuss age-appropriate platforms and apps

Minc Law Can Help

No one, especially a minor, should face sextortion alone. At Minc Law, we have extensive experience handling sensitive sextortion cases involving minors. We understand the urgency and complexity of these situations.

Our approach includes: