Online blackmail

Online blackmail is when someone threatens to share private information, images or videos of a person unless something is done for them.

Young people sometimes send nude pictures or videos to flirt or have fun with people they like online. Often, they believe that they won’t be shared any further and, most of the time, images and videos do stay private.

Unfortunately, there are some people online who  try to trick or pressure young people into sending images or videos of themselves. Once someone has an image or a video, they may threaten to share it publicly, unless the young person does something for them, like send them:

• money or gift cards (sometimes called ‘financially motivated sexual extortion’ or ‘sextortion’); or,
• more nude images.

Often, these people won’t carry out the threat, but sometimes they do.

When someone makes a threat like this, it is blackmail. Online blackmail is a form of abuse and is a criminal offence.

Anyone can be a victim of online blackmail, and it is never a young person’s fault if it happens to them.

Here are some things you can look out for that might mean someone wants to blackmail you:

1. They have a fake profile. Some people will set up a  fake profile online, and pretend to be someone they are not. These can be difficult to spot but their profile may be minimal, and you may not have mutual friends. If you do have mutual friends, you might not know anyone that has met them in person.
2. They’re moving too fast. They try to develop a relationship with you very quickly. They might be flirty, tell you they like you very soon into to chatting, or ask for nude images. Some may send nude images to you first.
3. It seems too good to be true. They might say they have an interesting job, like a modelling scout or say they know a way you can make quick money. They might offer you a job or lots of money in exchange for images. These may not be nude images to begin with, but they could start asking for them. If something feels too good to be true, it’s safest to say no, block and report them.
4. They tell you they’ve got embarrassing images or information about you. Some blackmailers might tell you they have hacked your account and have your nudes or personal information. Or, they may send you a nude image or video of you they have created using AI tools and apps. They might threaten to share these unless money is given to them.
5. They pressure you to do things you’re not comfortable with. They may repeatedly ask you to do things you don’t feel comfortable with, such as sending nudes. They might even say nasty things like telling you you’re boring if you don’t do what they ask. It’s never ok for someone to pressure you to do things you don’t want to and there are places you can get help.

If someone is pressuring you to send nudes or share information online, leave the conversation, and block and report them.

If you’ve shared nudes with someone and they are threatening you, including demanding more nudes or money from you, stay calm and don’t send them anything as they will just ask for more.  Instead you should:

• block the account
• report the account to the platform they are messaging you on;
• and tell an adult you trust what has happened. They can help to report the crime to the police.

If you don’t have anyone to tell, you can report it to CEOP who will help you and try to make you safe. Learn more about what happens when you make a report to CEOP.

If someone has shared an image or video of you online without your consent and you’re under 18, you can get help to get it removed. You can use:

• Report Remove from Childline and the Internet Watch Foundation to remove images that have been or might be shared
• Take It Down from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children to remove or stop the sharing of images

Feeling scared, embarrassed or anxious about what has happened is normal. Remember, it is never your fault if you are blackmailed online, and it can happen to anyone. Talking about it can really help, particularly if you feel overwhelmed.

A trusted adult, like a teacher, social worker or family member will listen, and support you. Childline and The Mix can support you confidentially if you feel like you’re struggling with how you feel. The Internet Watch Foundation also has advice if someone has threatened to share images of you online.