You do not have to pay.
You are not the first person this has happened to. And the shame you are feeling is exactly what they are counting on.
Sextortion is a crime where someone threatens to share intimate images of you unless you pay money or provide more content. It affects people of all ages. It affects men, women, and teenagers. It happens because attackers are organised, systematic, and very good at making victims feel isolated and trapped.
They are not. Here is what to do.
What sextortion is and how the most common SA variants work
Sextortion in South Africa most commonly occurs through three methods.
Fake romance. An attacker builds a relationship online over days or weeks. The relationship moves quickly. The attacker, who may be using a fake profile with AI-generated photos, escalates to intimate video calls or requests for intimate images. Once the images or video exist, the attacker reveals the threat: pay, or the content goes to your family, employer, and friends.
Hacked account. An attacker gains access to your email, cloud storage, or device and finds intimate images stored there. They make contact claiming to have "hacked your camera" and stating that they recorded you through your device. The email includes a real password you use, sourced from a past data breach, to make the threat sound credible. Most of these are bluffs. If you have received an email like this but have not shared images with anyone, the content does not usually exist.
Catfishing to extortion. An attacker creates a fake social media profile of an attractive person and makes contact. The conversation moves to a platform where content can be exchanged. Once the victim has sent something, the extortion begins.
What attackers actually do after receiving payment
This is the most important thing to understand: payment almost always results in further demands, not safety.
The attacker does not have a business interest in stopping once you have paid once. Payment confirms that you are afraid, that you have access to money, and that you will pay to protect your reputation. The second demand is larger. The third is larger still.
There are confirmed cases in South Africa of victims paying multiple times over months before finally reporting the crime. The content was sometimes still released even after payment.
Do not pay. Not the first time. Not ever.
Six immediate steps to take if you are being extorted right now
Step 1: Stop contact. Do not respond to the attacker further. Do not argue, plead, or negotiate. Block them on every platform. This removes the communication channel they are using and prevents you from saying anything that could be used against you.
Step 2: Document everything before you block. Take screenshots of the threats, the attacker's profile, and any messages. Include dates and timestamps. You need this for your report to SAPS.
Step 3: Do not send money or more content. Neither will make this stop. Both will make it worse.
Step 4: Report to the platform. Every major social media platform has a process for reporting sextortion. Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and WhatsApp all take these reports seriously. Use the "Report" function on the profile and content, and specify sextortion or blackmail.
Step 5: Report to SAPS. Open a case at your nearest police station or online at www.saps.gov.za. Report under the Cybercrimes Act 19 of 2020, which criminalises the distribution or threatened distribution of intimate images. Get a case number. You will need it for further steps.
Step 6: Request content removal. If intimate content has already been posted or shared, you can request removal directly from platforms. Facebook and Instagram have a confidential content removal tool for intimate images. Google and Microsoft also have processes for removing intimate imagery from search results.
How to report in South Africa
SAPS Cybercrime Unit: Report at your nearest station and ask specifically that the case be referred to the Cybercrime Unit. The Cybercrimes Act provides specific offences for the non-consensual distribution of intimate images.
Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit: If the victim is under 18, reporting to the FCS unit is appropriate. Child sextortion is increasing and is treated as a priority.
The Revenge Porn Helpline (UK-based, internationally accessible): www.revengepornhelpline.org.uk. This service provides support for content removal requests and guidance on legal options across multiple countries.
Film and Publication Board (FPB): The FPB accepts complaints about intimate content published online in South Africa. Submit at www.fpb.org.za.
If you are a professional, such as an attorney, accountant, or doctor, and the extortion relates to your professional conduct or reputation, the relevant professional body, such as the SAICA for accountants or the HPCSA for healthcare professionals, has processes for managing these situations with appropriate confidentiality.
How to request content removal from social platforms
Facebook and Instagram: Go to www.facebook.com/help/1964458993778474, which is the Non-Consensual Intimate Images reporting tool. You do not have to share the image directly. You generate a hash that Facebook uses to detect and remove the image.
Twitter/X: Report the content using the in-app reporting function under "Sensitive media / non-consensual nudity."
Google: Use the "Remove personal information from Google Search" tool at support.google.com to request removal of intimate imagery from search results.
Microsoft/Bing: Submit a removal request at www.microsoft.com/en-us/concern/bing.
These processes take time. Continue your SAPS report in parallel.
What parents should know about the teen sextortion wave
South Africa has seen a significant rise in sextortion targeting teenagers, particularly boys aged 14 to 17. The pattern often involves a fake female profile that escalates quickly to image exchange. Once an image is received, the attacker (often working as part of an organised group) demands money, threatening to send the images to the teenager's school, parents, and friends.
The shame and fear teenagers experience makes them extremely unlikely to tell their parents without help. Several South African teenage boys have died by suicide after being targeted.
If you are a parent and your child seems withdrawn, anxious, or is hiding their phone, have a calm, non-judgmental conversation. Make it clear they can tell you anything without it leading to punishment or blame.
If a teenager in your life is being extorted, help them report it. They have not done anything wrong. The crime is being committed against them.
For immediate support, the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) helpline is available at 0800 456 789.
If you need help investigating a sextortion incident or navigating the reporting process, our team can assist at /services/incident-response/ or via [email protected]. We treat these cases with full confidentiality.
Sources: - South African Government: Cybercrimes Act 19 of 2020 (Published: June 1, 2021) - SAPS: Cybercrime Unit Reporting Procedures (Accessed: 2026) - South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG): Crisis Support Hotline (Accessed: 2026)
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