What to Do if You’re Being Blackmailed — Free Self-Help Guide.
If you're being blackmailed with explicit images or videos, the most effective step is to cut off all communication with the blackmailer and hope they bugger off without releasing your sexual content. Heads up: there are no free helplines or organizations that can resolve this type of situation on your behalf.
Lock down your privacy settings.
Go through every social media account and set the strictest privacy options available. Make sure only you can see your friends or followers lists.
Save every piece of evidence.
Screenshot or download all messages, photos, usernames, and timestamps — doesn’t matter if the blackmailer can see you doing it. On some platforms, like Telegram and WhatsApp, you can export the entire chat history.
Block any new or unfamiliar contacts — immediately.
If you’ve recently accepted friend requests or new followers, block them without hesitation. If you have other “special someone” from online — block them, too. Roughly one in four cases we see involves multiple blackmailers working together or scouting a victim from the sidelines.
Report and block the blackmailer’s account.
Report their profile and any threatening screenshots. Do it from multiple accounts if you can. Getting their current profile taken down reduces repeat contact (though they can always reappear under a new handle).
Deactivate your social media accounts and change usernames.
You need to be thinking in terms of how to completely minimize your online presence. If you can’t deactivate your social media accounts, then you need to cover your tracks.
Let’s start with Instagram: change your username, delete your profile picture, and remove any information on your account, like your name, links, pronouns, etc. Also, make sure strangers can't add you to group chats—otherwise, there’s a high chance the perpetrators will add you to a group with your followers and spread your explicit photos there. The less info available, the better.
Now: Facebook. It also has a username — change it. If you followed the first step in this guide, your account should already be private. Now let’s adjust additional privacy settings on Facebook — there are plenty. Turn off the feature that allows search engines to index your Facebook page. Make sure you’re the only person who can tag you. Limit who can message you to "Friends" only.
There are also privacy settings on messaging apps like Telegram and WhatsApp. Adjust them to the highest level of security available.
Bottom line: you need to keep your online presence as discreet as possible. If you can deactivate your accounts, do it. If you can change your phone number — do it. If you can’t — secure them to the best of your ability. There are plenty of guides, even YouTube tutorials, on how to lock down each platform. Just Google it.
Swap usernames, display name, and profile photo.
Update your voicemail greeting.
On iPhone, switch iMessage to receive only at your email, then change the Apple ID email itself.
Change your phone number if possible.
Your goal is simple: completely disappear from their radar. Don't hang your head. There is a great chance it will soon end and you won’t get exposed.
Ignore every stranger who contacts you.
The blackmailer may pretend to be a delivery driver, a wrong-number texter, or “a friend trying to help.” Screenshot the message, then block and report. Every reply tells them you’re still reachable.
If you’ve already paid, try to refund
Paying is the worst move: it shows the scam works, and the demands always grow. Even one payment over $200 can keep them chasing you (and your relatives) day and night. Overall, the more you paid them, the more persistant they’re going to be. But still, each situation is unique. Don’t hang your head! Don’t give up! This is not the end of the world.