Parent playbook · Last reviewed June 2026
Sextortion — do not pay
Sextortion is blackmail: someone threatens to share a minor's intimate images unless they pay money or send more photos. Cybertip.ca receives an average of six sextortion reports per day. This is organized — not a one-off bully.
First 30 minutes
- Do not pay. Payment rarely stops demands and can mark your child as a repeat target.
- Tell your child: this is not their fault.
- Screenshot usernames, payment links (Cash App, crypto), and threats — do not delete the account yet.
- Report at report.cybertip.org and ic3.gov.
- If images are already circulating and the victim is under 18 → Take It Down (NCMEC).
Do not
- Pay or buy gift cards
- Send additional images hoping it ends the threat
- Delete the account before saving evidence
- Publicly share the child's name or images seeking help on social media
How it usually starts
Often a fake peer on Instagram, Snapchat, or gaming platforms moves to video chat, records the session, then demands payment. Some schemes use AI-generated images — still reportable.
Official sources