Sextortion
A threat to publish intimate images or messages unless the victim pays — frequently where no such images exist.
Two different crimes share the name. In one, the offender genuinely has images, usually obtained by deception, and demands payment or more images. In the other — far more common in reported volume — the offender has nothing and is bluffing at scale, often quoting a leaked password or a photograph of a house pulled from a mapping service to make the threat feel specific.
Paying rarely ends it, and reliably invites more demands. The FBI received more than 75,000 sextortion submissions in 2025. Where a minor is involved this is child exploitation, not a scam, and should be reported as such immediately; support organisations can also request takedowns before anything is published.
Where it shows up
- Sextortion — A threat to publish intimate images unless you pay — very often when no images exist at all.