How to report blackmail or extortion.
If someone is blackmailing you online, reporting can involve more than one place: the platform where the threat occurred, local law enforcement where appropriate, and a cybercrime reporting channel.
SafeLine support is available 24/7. Phone, text or email our support team.
Preserve evidence before you report
Save the threatening messages, usernames, profile links, phone numbers, email addresses, dates, payment demands, transaction IDs and other identifiers. Keep enough context to show the pattern of threats.
Avoid unnecessarily forwarding or redistributing intimate images while preserving evidence.
How to report extortion to the police
If you want to make a police report, organize a short timeline of what happened and bring or securely provide the evidence you preserved. Explain the threats, what the offender demanded, whether money was sent and whether anyone else has been contacted.
If there is immediate physical danger, stalking or a credible threat of violence, use the emergency service appropriate to your location rather than waiting for an online report.
Report the account or content to the platform
Use the affected platform's official reporting tools for threats, harassment, impersonation or non-consensual intimate-content concerns. Keep evidence before blocking if it is safe to do so.
A platform report and a police or cybercrime report serve different purposes, so one does not necessarily replace the other.
For U.S. cyber-enabled crime, consider FBI IC3
The FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center accepts reports about internet-enabled crime. Preserve payment details, cryptocurrency wallet addresses and account identifiers that may be relevant to the complaint.
Filing a report does not guarantee a particular investigation or recovery outcome.
What if the blackmailer is in another country?
You can still report the incident where you live. Preserve the evidence and explain why you believe another country may be involved. See what to do if someone is blackmailing you from another country for a focused step-by-step guide.
Frequently asked questions
How do I report blackmail?
Preserve the threat and account identifiers, report the account or content to the relevant platform, and consider local law enforcement or an appropriate cybercrime reporting channel based on your situation.
How do I report extortion to the police?
Prepare a concise timeline and preserve messages, account identifiers, payment demands and transaction records. Contact your local police or appropriate law-enforcement agency and explain that you are reporting extortion or online blackmail.
Should I report before blocking the blackmailer?
When it is safe, preserve the evidence you may need first because blocking or account removal can make some messages harder to retrieve.
Official resources
Meta advises people experiencing Instagram blackmail to report it and contact local law enforcement.
Need help organizing your next steps?
SafeLine Digital Support provides confidential help for sextortion, online blackmail and cyber harassment. We help clients reduce threats, protect privacy, preserve useful evidence and navigate appropriate reporting options. No particular offender response or removal outcome can be guaranteed.