Sextortion in India
In India, sextortion refers to using threats or intimidation to force someone to pay money, share data, or comply with demands. In recent years, online sextortion has become far more common than traditional forms. Image/video based, here the attacker records or fabricates intimate images or videos during a chat or video call and then threatens to share them with the victim’s followers or contacts unless money is paid. Even when no real content exists, edited images or fake screenshots are used to create fear. Different types of cases reported on online sites are as follows:
- Image or Video based Sextortion: Professional/Business Extortion - illegally forcing a business or business owner to give money, Fake clients or collaborators, Access to documents/accounts
- Romance based Sextortion: Crypto/Investment Extortion - coerce the victim into paying more money to “release” profits. Fake profits/forced payments
- Impersonation based Sextortion
- Deepfake and AI Generated Sextortion
- Live Video Call Sextortion
Instagram allows users to report sextortion, impersonation, and threats involving private images or videos directly through its in-app reporting tools and Help Center. Victims can report chats, profiles, posts, or accounts that attempt blackmail or misuse personal images. Instagram also provides dedicated options for reporting threats to share intimate content and prioritizes these reports for quicker review.
WhatsApp provides built-in options to report and block users who engage in sextortion, blackmail, or impersonation. Users can report suspicious chats, numbers, or messages directly from the conversation. WhatsApp also offers guidance on identifying scams and abusive behavior through its Help Center to support users facing online threats or coercion.
Snapchat
Snapchat provides official reporting mechanisms for sextortion, blackmail, and misuse of images through its Safety and Support pages. Users can report abusive messages, accounts, or content directly from chats or profiles. Snapchat encourages immediate reporting of threats involving intimate images and reviews such cases under its abuse, harassment, and illegal content policies.
Facebook enables users to report sextortion, impersonation, and threats across posts, profiles, messages, and pages using its in-platform reporting tools. The platform has specific support for reporting fake accounts and threats to share private or sexual images. Facebook states that sextortion cases are treated as a priority under its safety and abuse policies.
YouTube
YouTube allows users to report videos, Shorts, comments, or channels involved in harassment, blackmail, or extortion through its reporting system. Content involving threats, coercion, or misuse of personal images can be flagged for review. Users can submit reports directly from the content or channel page using YouTube’s official reporting tools.
Google provides a centralized reporting hub where users can report abusive, harmful or illegal content across its services (Search, Drive, YouTube, Blogger, etc.). This includes content that violates policies or applicable laws. Use the Google legal troubleshooter to navigate to the correct form for the specific product you are reporting on.
Pinterest provides reporting tools to flag inappropriate or harmful content, including harassment, bullying, or misuse of images. Users can report Pins, comments, messages, boards, or accounts that violate Pinterest’s Community Guidelines. There’s also a dedicated process for reporting non-consensual or intimate imagery through Pinterest’s NCII reporting form. Once reported, content is reviewed and may be removed or restricted to help keep the platform safe.
Roblox
Roblox has built-in reporting tools that let users flag inappropriate behaviour, abusive chat, threats or other rule violations directly from within the game or profile. Players can report harmful interactions or content that violates the platform’s Community Standards using the Report Abuse feature. Reports go to Roblox moderators for investigation, helping protect the community from harassment and exploitation.
Tumblr
Tumblr allows users to report posts, blogs or messages that violate its Community Guidelines. Whether you encounter explicit content, harassment or harmful material, the reporting tool is accessible via the three-dot (•••) menu on posts and blogs. Submitted reports are reviewed by Tumblr’s Trust & Safety team, who may remove the content or take action against the account.
X (formerly Twitter)
X allows users to report abusive behaviour, threats, harmful messages, impersonation, and other violations directly from tweets, profiles or messages. Select the “More” icon on a tweet or profile to report, then choose the category that best fits the issue. Submitted reports are reviewed for violations of the platform’s rules and may result in action against the account.
LinkedIn provides reporting tools for users who experience harassment, threats, impersonation, scams, or extortion on the platform. Sextortion on LinkedIn often appears through fake profiles, professional collaboration scams, or abusive messages. Users can report messages, profiles, posts, or comments that violate LinkedIn’s Professional Community Policies. Reported content is reviewed, and LinkedIn may remove accounts or restrict abusive activity.
Discord
Discord offers reporting options to flag abusive messages, threats, exploitation, harassment or other harmful behaviour that breaks its Community Guidelines. Users can report directly from a user profile using the three-dot menu, selecting the violation type, and submitting relevant details. Discord’s Trust & Safety team reviews reports and may take actions such as removing content or suspending accounts.
Twitch
Twitch provides reporting tools for users to flag harassment, threats, hate speech, sexual misconduct or other violations of its Community Guidelines. Viewers and streamers can report inappropriate behaviour from any channel, chat message, or user account. Reports are reviewed by Twitch Safety, who can take action such as warnings, suspensions, or bans based on the severity of the violation.
FAQ: Reporting Sextortion Online
Sextortion is a form of online abuse where someone threatens to share real or fake intimate images, videos, or information to force a victim to pay money, provide data, or comply with demands.