Last Updated on July 7, 2023

Sextortion, a growing cybercrime that is taking over some of your favorite social media, such as Instagram, is becoming a major problem in today’s society. This crime involves victims being blackmailed out of thousands of dollars to avoid having their intimate photos or videos leaked to the public. This horrific crime is becoming so much of a worldwide issue that it is causing tragic deaths around the United States. If you want to learn how to stop sextortion on Instagram and protect yourself from this cybercrime, read on.

What Should a Victim of Sextortion Do?

When it comes to sextortion, the most popular questions are:

Do Sextortionists Give Up?
Can sextortion ruin your life?
And if yes, How to Stop Sextortion on Instagram
How to report sextortion on Instagram

You want to take some pivotal steps to ensure the situation does not escalate and turn into a vicious cycle. We understand that when it comes down to it, and you are faced with the threat of exposure, you will want to do anything in your power to make the situation end. This can mean succumbing to your blackmailers’ demands.

That being said, giving in to the demands of your blackmailer will make things far worse than you would think. Let’s get into what steps you should take if you ever become a victim of sextortion.

Be calm.
As I mentioned before, acting on an impulse will only make matters worse. We know this is a very scary situation, however, sextortionists have a method that consists of harassing their victims to the point they have given up all of their money. Once these criminals know you are willing to give up cash, they will always come back for more.

Lock it down.
It’s important for you to lock down your Instagram account so that you limit the number of people and information your sextortionist can access. This means making your account private, limiting personal information, and updating your passwords. We also recommend doing this on your other social media platforms as well.

Tell someone.
Sextortion is a very traumatic crime. Victims feel alone, exploited, and fearful which sextortionists take full advantage of. This is why leaning on a family member or friend is so important. Victims need to know that they are not alone and there is a way out of this!

Document.
Documenting the harassment and threats is vital! Make sure to document harassing messages, calls, texts, emails, names, phone numbers, etc. The more information you have on your sextortionist, the better chance authorities will be able to catch them.

Report.
Once you’ve documented the harassment, it’s crucial to report your sextortionists Instagram account to the platform. You should report their account and their messages so Instagram can see what abuse is happening on their platform and they can take appropriate action and remove the account.

Does Instagram Stop Sextortion?

Sextortion on Instagram happens every day! The platform has seen reports of this type of abuse so much that they have created a resource page for sextortion victims. In the platform’s Help Center, users are provided with safety tips on how to avoid sharing intimate content with other users as well as resources for support.

Sharing exploitive images and videos goes against Instagram’s community guidelines. If reported, the platform can remove and ban the sextortionists account. However, this does not stop these criminals from harassing their victims. If blocked, or their account gets removed, many sextortionists will start to harass through an additional Instagram account.

How Do I Stop Being Blackmailed on Instagram?

In addition to implementing the steps we have recommended, victims should always report the crime to the police to stop the blackmail from continuing! There is no reason to be ashamed or afraid of reaching out for help! Sextortion is a serious crime and needs to be handled as such. Do not let your blackmailer silence you! You can also report the crime to Cyber Investigation. We specialize in cases of sextortion and are experts at handling such sensitive territory. Give us a call today to see how we can help end this abuse.

Summary

Sextortion is a dangerous crime that threatens many people’s online safety, and all of us need to stay informed about the issue and ways to protect ourselves. Learning how to stop sextortion on Instagram starts with being prepared and staying aware of our profile security. It’s important to remain calm throughout the situation and reach out to trusted friends, family, and authorities. By following these tips, we can work together towards eliminating this issue! And if you or someone you know finds themselves victim to Instagram sextortion, don’t hesitate to report the crime to Cyber Investigation.