Sextortion
A scam where someone threatens to release private images or information unless you pay — often based on a hacked account, a fake recording claim, or stolen contacts.
What Is This Scam?
A scam where someone threatens to release private images or information unless you pay — often based on a hacked account, a fake recording claim, or stolen contacts.
How This Scam Usually Works
- •You receive a message claiming to have compromising images or footage of you.
- •They may claim to have hacked your camera or contacts.
- •They demand payment, usually in crypto or gift cards.
- •They use fear, urgency, and secrecy to pressure you.
- •If you pay, the demands usually continue or escalate.
Common Warning Signs
- •Threat to expose images
- •Demands crypto/gift cards
- •Claims hacked your camera
- •Urgency and secrecy
What Scammers Commonly Say
- “'I have recorded you — pay or I'll send it to your contacts.'
- “'Send Bitcoin / gift cards within 24 hours.'
- “'I hacked your camera and your contact list.'
- “'Don't tell anyone, or I'll release it.'
Before You Act
Pause and check these before sending money, sharing details, or clicking anything.
- •Know that most sextortion claims are bluffs based on leaked passwords.
- •Do not pay — paying rarely stops the demands.
- •Change passwords and enable 2FA on your accounts.
- •Cover or disable your webcam if worried about real access.
Questions to Ask Yourself
- ?Did they claim to have footage I never knowingly recorded?
- ?Are they demanding crypto or gift cards?
- ?Did they mention an old password from a data leak?
- ?Am I being told not to tell anyone?
What You Should NOT Do
- ✕Do not pay — paying rarely stops the demands and often escalates them.
- ✕Do not send more money or images.
- ✕Do not engage in long negotiation with the blackmailer.
- ✕Do not delete evidence — save the messages.
What You Should Do Immediately
- •Stop replying and do not pay.
- •Change passwords for your email and social accounts; enable 2FA.
- •Block the sender and report the account on the platform.
- •Save all messages as evidence (don't delete).
- •Report to your country's cybercrime authority.
What Evidence You Should Preserve
- •The messages and threats
- •The sender's account or email
- •Any wallet address or payment instructions
- •Timestamps of the threats
- •What they claimed to have
Never upload passwords, OTPs, PINs, CVVs, seed phrases, or full banking credentials.
Payment / Account Protection Steps
- •Secure your accounts with new passwords and 2FA.
- •If you already paid, contact your bank or crypto exchange, but crypto is rarely reversible.
- •Monitor accounts for further access attempts.
Reporting Options
Report sextortion to your country's cybercrime authority and to the platform where the threat was sent. Include the messages, the sender's account, and any wallet address. Do not pay.
View Country Reporting GuideRecovery Considerations
Most sextortion claims are bluffs based on leaked passwords, not real footage. Not paying is the safest path. Recovery of any money paid is very unlikely.
High Risk of Recovery Scam
Scam victims are often targeted again by fake “recovery agents.”
- Anyone claiming “We can recover your money for a small upfront fee” is almost certainly a scammer.
- Recovery is never guaranteed. No legitimate service charges an upfront fee to retrieve stolen funds.
- Scammers buy victim lists — expect fake “hackers”, “officials”, and “lawyers” to contact you.
How GoCheckAI Can Help
GoCheckAI gives you calm steps to secure your accounts, preserve evidence, and report to the right authority for your country.
GoCheckAI does not guarantee recovery, does not act as a recovery agent, and will never ask you to pay someone to recover funds.
Related Scam Types
Frequently Asked Questions
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