Someone is threatening to share my photos or video

It is not your fault, and you are not alone. Do not pay, stop replying, and keep the messages as evidence. You can report it to the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) on 1799, and it helps to talk to someone you trust.

First, take a breath

Being threatened like this can feel frightening and shameful. Please know that the person doing this is the one at fault. Many people have been caught by this, including careful and clever ones.

The threat is meant to make you panic so that you act quickly. You do not have to decide anything in the next few minutes.

What this is

This crime is often called sextortion. The UK National Crime Agency warned that criminals doing it are motivated by making money quickly, and that it can move from first contact to blackmail in under an hour. The images can be real, or they can be made to look real.

In Pakistan, some of these people also pretend to be officials. Whoever it is, the aim is the same: to scare you into sending money.

What to do now

Do not pay. We cannot promise that paying would stop it, and the person may ask again.
Stop replying. You do not need to argue, explain or send anything more.
Keep the evidence. Take screenshots of the messages, the account name, the profile link and any payment details, but do not save, forward or share the images themselves. Do this before you block anyone.
Block the contact once you have saved the evidence.
Tell someone you trust today, such as a parent, an older sibling, a teacher or a counsellor. You do not have to tell everyone.
Report it to the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) on 1799, or at complaint.nccia.gov.pk.

What not to do

Please do not send any more photos, videos, money or documents, even if the person promises that this is the last time. Do not delete the messages, because they may help the people who investigate.

If you have already paid, that does not make you guilty of anything. Stop paying and save the receipts. The guide 'I already paid a scammer or fake agent: what to do now' explains the next steps.

Support for you

Rozan runs a counselling helpline on ⁦0800‑22‑444⁩, which is free, Monday to Friday, 9:30 am to 5 pm (in Ramadan, 9:30 am to 3 pm). Rozan works with young people, women and children.

If you are under 18, please tell a parent, teacher or another adult you trust today. If you are outside Pakistan, contact the local police and the nearest Pakistani embassy.

TaleemParakh has no human reviewers yet and no crisis service. We cannot look at your case. The numbers on this page are public services that you can contact yourself.

For parents and family

If your son or daughter has told you about this, thank them for trusting you. Stay calm, and do not blame them. Help them keep the evidence and make the report to NCCIA, and make sure they have someone to talk to.

Questions people ask

Should I pay to make it stop?

No. The advice from the UK National Crime Agency is not to pay, to stop contact, and to keep the evidence. We cannot promise that paying would stop it.

Who can I report this to in Pakistan?

NCCIA takes cyber crime complaints on 1799 or at complaint.nccia.gov.pk.

Need help now?

TaleemParakh has no human reviewers yet and no crisis service. These are public services you can contact yourself. Please also talk to someone you trust today.

Emergency in Pakistan: Rescue 1122 (emergency services), Police 15. If you are thinking about hurting yourself or ending your life, call Rescue 1122 now, or go to the nearest hospital emergency department, or ask someone near you to take you. You can also tell an adult who is with you. You matter. You do not have to face this alone.
Feeling low or overwhelmed: Taskeen ⁦0316 8275336⁩ (free, Monday to Saturday, 11 am to 11 pm). Rozan Counseling Helpline ⁦0800‑22‑444⁩ (free, Monday to Friday, 9:30 am to 5 pm; in Ramadan 9:30 am to 3 pm). These are daytime lines, and Taskeen is not an emergency line.
Online fraud, fake messages or hacked accounts: National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) helpline 1799, or complaint.nccia.gov.pk.
Fraud calls or SMS: report the number to your mobile company first, then to the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) on ⁦0800‑55055⁩ or complaint.pta.gov.pk.
Money sent from a Pakistani bank or wallet: call your bank's helpline at once and ask them to stop the transfer. If the bank does not solve it, complain to the Banking Mohtasib (free).
In trouble abroad: the nearest Pakistani embassy, or the Foreign Office Crisis Management Unit, ⁦+92 51 9207887⁩ (a Foreign Office advisory of March 2026 described it as working 24 hours).
Human rights legal advice: Ministry of Human Rights 1099 (free, weekdays 8:30 am to 9 pm).

Contacts checked on 13 October 2026.

See the help numbers

Sources

Official and institution sources

NCA issues urgent warning about sextortion (29 April 2024, marked expired) (National Crime Agency (UK))
NCCIA helpline fully operational (press release No. 19, 3 June 2025) (Government of Pakistan, Press Information Department)
Overseas Pakistani complaint cell (with link to the NCCIA complaint portal) (Federal Investigation Agency (FIA))

News reports and support organisations

Seek help (Taskeen helpline) (Taskeen Health Initiative)
Rozan Counseling Helpline (Rozan)

Facts checked on 13 October 2026