What is sextortion or online blackmail?
Sextortion is when someone threatens to share your private or intimate photos or videos unless you pay money or do what they demand. It is a crime. You are the victim — this is not your fault, and you are not alone.
It can happen to anyone, of any age or gender. Often the person you were chatting with was never who they claimed to be — many of these scams are run by organised groups who record calls or coax images specifically to blackmail. Being tricked does not make you responsible for the crime committed against you.
Feeling scared, ashamed, or trapped is a completely normal reaction — but shame is exactly what the blackmailer relies on. The moment you tell someone and report it, you take that power back. You have done nothing to be ashamed of.
What should you do first if someone is blackmailing you online?
Stop and breathe. Do not pay. Do not delete anything — you'll need the evidence. Stop replying to the blackmailer but keep your account for now. Then report fast to helpline 1930 and cybercrime.gov.in, and tell someone you trust.
Report it to helpline 1930 and your bank as soon as possible — fast reporting can sometimes help freeze or trace the transfer. See our guides on UPI fraud and wrong money transfers for the exact bank and 1930 steps.
Being blackmailed and not sure what to do?
Ask Legal Setu — free, private, no account needed.Should you pay a sextortion blackmailer?
No. Paying almost never makes it stop — it usually signals you'll pay again and leads to more demands. Keep your money, preserve the evidence, and report to the police through 1930 and cybercrime.gov.in instead.
It is natural to think a single payment will make the problem disappear. In practice, the opposite is true. Once a blackmailer sees you will pay, they treat you as a source of money and come back with fresh threats. There is no version of paying that reliably ends it.
The threat feels urgent because that is the tactic — pressure and panic are how they force a payment before you think clearly. You are allowed to slow down, say nothing to them, and go straight to the police.
How do you report sextortion in India?
Call the cybercrime helpline 1930 and file a complaint on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (cybercrime.gov.in). Its "Women/Children Related Crime" option lets you report anonymously. You can also visit your nearest police station or cyber-crime cell.
- Call 1930 — the national cybercrime helpline. Keep your evidence and any transaction details ready.
- File online at cybercrime.gov.in — the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal. The "Report Women/Child Related Crime" section allows you to register anonymously if you prefer not to share your identity.
- Report on the platform — use the app or website's own reporting and blocking tools to flag the account and help limit any spread.
- Visit the police — you can also go in person to your local police station or cyber-crime cell to lodge a complaint.
Cases involving intimate images are handled sensitively. You can request that your identity be protected, and the portal's anonymous reporting option means you can start the process without giving your name.
You don't have to handle this alone.
₹99* books a verified lawyer, briefed on your situation before the call.*₹99 is the platform booking fee. Your advocate’s own fee is quoted and agreed before the call.What evidence should you save?
Save everything before blocking anyone. Take screenshots of the chats, threats, the person's profile and username, phone numbers, email IDs, links, and any payment or transaction details. Don't delete messages or your account — this evidence helps the police act.
- Screenshots of the conversation — the threats, the demands, and any deadlines they set.
- The account details — profile name, username, profile photo, and the URL or link to their profile.
- Contact details — phone numbers, email addresses, or any other IDs they used to reach you.
- Payment and transaction details — UPI IDs, account numbers, wallet names, amounts, dates, and reference numbers if any money was requested or sent.
- Links and files — any URLs, group links, or files they sent or referred to.
It can feel natural to want to erase the whole thing. Resist that urge until you have saved copies and reported it. Once evidence is gone, it is very hard for the police to trace the person.
Is sextortion a crime in India?
Yes. Using intimate images to extort money or favours can attract offences under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023 (extortion, criminal intimidation) and the Information Technology Act 2000 (violation of privacy, obscene material). You are the victim of a crime, not the offender.
The exact offences that apply depend on the facts of your case — what was threatened, whether money was demanded, and whether anything was actually shared. A police officer or lawyer will identify the specific provisions when your complaint is registered. What matters for you to know is simple: the law treats you as the victim, and the person threatening you as the one breaking it.
You do not need to know the precise section numbers to report. Just describe what happened, share your evidence, and the authorities will apply the relevant law under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the IT Act.
What if the victim is under 18?
If the person targeted is under 18, this involves child-protection law (the POCSO Act) and must be reported immediately. Call the cybercrime helpline 1930 and the child helpline 1098 (Childline), and file at cybercrime.gov.in. Do not pay or stay silent — act now.
Cases involving a child are taken extremely seriously and are handled with special protections. Reporting quickly is the most important thing you can do. A parent, guardian, or trusted adult can help make the report, and the portal's "Report Women/Child Related Crime" option can be used, including anonymously.
Call 1098 (Childline) and 1930, and file at cybercrime.gov.in right away. Do not pay, do not delete evidence, and tell a trusted adult. The child is never at fault.