Whatsapp Sextortion Helpline

Sextortion can bring up a lot of intense emotions, which can make it difficult to keep a clear head. There are best practices on how to respond to WhatsApp sextortion threats to ensure victims aren’t navigating the situation blindly. With the right steps, you can minimize the risk of exposure and protect yourself. Take note of the following steps when facing WhatsApp sextortion.

1. Preserve evidence. The first step you should take is saving the evidence of the sextortion for later use. This ensures you have documented proof of the crime to support investigative or legal efforts. You can take screenshots of messages, the profiles involved, and any other evidence that is relevant.
2. Never give in to demands. Complying with the sextortionist is not an effective way to put an end to the threat. Instead, the criminal will see the act as a sign that you are susceptible to their tactics.
3. Stop communication. After the sextortion threat is made, the perpetrators will typically continue to barrage the victim with threats. However, agreeing or refusing to meet their demands will only worsen the situation. The safest course of action is to avoid engaging and to work with experts to stop the abuse.
4. Report the account on WhatsApp. You can report contacts on WhatsApp for sextortion anonymously. This could lead to the banning of their account from the platform.
5. Notify law enforcement. Report the sextortion to your local law enforcement and to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). They can officially document the crime and, in some cases, launch an investigation into who is responsible.
6. Update security settings. Depending on how the sextortionist gained access to your private content, you may need to update the security settings on your online profiles. Make sure your passwords are strong and unique to each account. You should also enable two-factor authentication when it is an option.

WhatsApp sextortion is similar to a thief stealing recordings of your most private conversation and then threatening to broadcast them publicly. It strips away your sense of safety and, if exposed, can be deeply traumatizing. In cases of exposure, you do still have options to minimize the damage and preserve your online reputation.

There are tools and resources created to help victims of non-consensual intimate image abuse after the event of exposure. Here are some trusted resources to help if you’re worried about your private content being shared without your consent.

• Report the content to online platforms. Most popular platforms have policies against image-based sexual abuse, and have a self-reporting feature to notify the administrators of such content. The TAKE IT DOWN Act may also support this process. This federal bill requires online platforms to remove reported non-consensual intimate imagery within 48 hours.
• Use a content removal service. There are two main tools that were created specifically to remove non-consensually shared explicit content from online platforms: Take It Down and StopNCII.org. Take It Down is a free tool that helps minors remove non-consensual intimate image abuse (NCII abuse) from platforms like Facebook and Reddit. The tool allows users to submit the explicit content that they are concerned about being shared online. Then, the service marks the content with a unique number. Whenever that unique number is detected on other platforms, it’s removed or even blocked from being uploaded. For adults, StopNCII.org is a tool that removes NCII abuse in a similar way.
• Confide in someone for emotional support. The emotional weight of falling victim to sextortion can be overwhelming to carry alone. As difficult as it may be, opening up to a trusted friend, family member, or counselor can help alleviate some of that burden. It can also undermine the sextortionist’s leverage.

WhatsApp offers a reporting feature for users to notify the platform of any behavior that violates their community standards. Victims should always report messages threatening sextortion to the platform administrators. This could result in the perpetrator’s account being banned.

WhatsApp also provides the option to “Report & Block” other users. However, it’s important to take caution when blocking a sextortionist. They can often discover that they’ve been blocked and may expose your private information in retaliation. If you want to report a user on WhatsApp, follow these steps:

1. Open the chat with the user you want to report.
2. Open the contact’s info.
3. Select “Report” at the bottom of the menu options.

Reporting WhatsApp sextortion to your local law enforcement is one of the most important steps to take. They can help you file a report, officially recording the evidence and crime. The police can also help guide you to trusted resources and may even launch an investigation to hold the perpetrator accountable. However, local law enforcement only has authority in their local jurisdictions.

This is why it’s important to also report WhatsApp sextortion to the FBI. The Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) is the FBI’s national reporting hub for online crimes, and they are not restricted to local jurisdiction. They even have strong global connections to international law enforcement agencies in other countries. You can file a report with the IC3 by visiting the field office most local to you or through their website.

Our mission at Cyber Investigation Inc. is to use our expertise, experience, and cutting-edge technology to help victims protect their privacy and online reputation. We understand how devastating sextortion can be, especially when your privacy is weaponized against you. That’s why we also take the fight to the perpetrator responsible, tracing their digital footprint to remove their anonymity.

Our investigations are conducted with strict confidentiality and full compliance with legal standards. With over 220 ratings and an average of 4.9 out of 5, our proprietary strategies continue to earn us the trust of the people we’ve supported.