Reporting and Support

Maybe you need the picture taken down. Maybe you need a ride, a doctor, somewhere to sleep, or somebody to sit beside you while you make a call. You can ask for that without deciding whether you want to involve the police.

You do not have to have a perfect story, proof folder, or decision about the police before you ask someone what to do. If you are embarrassed, worried you will get blamed, or afraid that reporting will make everything bigger, start with one person or service that can explain your choices. Asking is not the same as committing to a report.

Preserve what is useful

If safe, make a private note such as: “Tuesday, 9:40 p.m.—username @x threatened to post the photo; profile URL; message still in app.” Keep original messages rather than editing them. Avoid collecting or forwarding intimate images, especially images of anyone who may be under 18.

Choose a reporting path

• Use the platform’s report and blocking tools for account or content violations.
• Contact a local victim-support or sexual-assault service for confidential options and advocacy.
• Contact law enforcement or a legal professional if you want to discuss a formal report or immediate threat.
• Tell somebody who will put your safety first what support would help: company, transport, a place to stay, or help making a call. They can be a friend or relative nearby, or an online friend who can stay on the phone and contact someone local.

Before you share identifying details, ask: “What do you write down? Who can see it? Is there anything you have to report?” Ask first, then decide what you want to share.

Common starting points

• FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) — a place to submit information about suspected internet-enabled crime, including some scams and extortion. Submitting a complaint is not the same as an emergency response.
• FTC ReportFraud — reports for scams, fraud, and deceptive business practices in the United States.
• RAINN resources — information and support options related to sexual violence in the United States.
• VictimConnect Resource Center — information and referrals for people affected by crime, including help thinking through options.

If someone is threatening to publish your private images or extorting you online, start with IC3. If money disappeared in a scam, use FTC ReportFraud. If someone touched or forced you, RAINN can help you think through support. If you do not know what category fits, start with VictimConnect and say, “Something happened and I need help figuring out my options.” These forms are not emergency services, so call your local emergency number if someone is in immediate danger.

If an intimate image of someone under 18 is involved, do not download, forward, or collect copies. Preserve the surrounding account details and use the platform’s reporting path or the appropriate child-exploitation reporting channel. If anyone is in immediate danger, call your local emergency number instead of waiting for an online form.

If you are not ready to report

You can still block the account, tell one person who will take you seriously, ask a hotline or advocate what they record, and make a private timeline of events. That person can be online; if they are not local, give them the number of someone who is and agree what they should do if you stop answering. Ask before sharing identifying details: different services have different confidentiality and reporting rules. Getting information is a valid first step.

You can ask what your options are without committing to a report.