Quick answerIf someone threatens to share intimate images or video unless you pay, stop replying, don't pay, keep all evidence (screenshots, profile links, payment details), report and block the account on the platform, and report it to your cyber crime agency (NCCIA in Pakistan). Paying rarely ends it. You are the victim of a crime and you are not alone.
Sextortion often starts with a friendly stranger on Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat or a dating app who moves quickly to a video call. The call is recorded, sometimes with a fake video on their side, and minutes later the threats start: pay, or the recording goes to your family, friends or employer. It is a crime in almost every country, including under PECA 2016 in Pakistan.
Do this now
- Stop responding. Don't argue, plead or negotiate.
- Don't pay. Payment marks you as someone who pays, and demands usually increase.
- Take screenshots of the chat, the profile, the username and any payment details they sent. Copy profile URLs.
- Report the account to the platform using its report tools, then block it.
- Lock down your accounts: make your friends list and followers private, so the blackmailer can't easily find your contacts.
- Report it to your cyber crime agency. In Pakistan that's the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA).
Getting images taken down
Major platforms remove intimate images shared without consent. StopNCII.org lets adults create a digital fingerprint (hash) of an image on their own device, without uploading it, so participating platforms can block it. For anyone under 18, NCMEC's Take It Down service does the same.
Talk to someone
This is frightening, and blackmailers rely on shame and isolation. Tell one person you trust. If you're having thoughts of harming yourself, contact a local helpline or emergency service right away. Drofsecurity's emergency page lists helplines for your country.
Frequently asked questions
Should I pay a sextortion blackmailer?
No. Paying rarely stops the threats and usually leads to more demands. Stop contact, keep evidence and report it.
Will they really share the video?
Many blackmailers move on when they get no response, but you should still report the account and lock down your profiles to limit who they can reach.
Is sextortion a crime in Pakistan?
Yes. Blackmail and sharing intimate images without consent are offences under PECA 2016 and the Pakistan Penal Code. Report it to NCCIA.