You are being blackmailed.
What to do right now.

If you are reading this because someone is threatening to share intimate images, videos, or information unless you pay or comply with demands — this page is for you.

You have not done something unforgivable. You were targeted by criminals who do this professionally. Your next actions determine whether it gets worse. Follow these steps.

Immediate steps — do these now

• Stop responding completely. Every response — including "please don't do this" — tells them they have leverage. Silence is not agreement. It is the correct tactic. Block the number, the account, every channel they used to contact you. Do it now.
• Do not pay anything. Not to "test" them. Not a small amount. Not to buy time. Payment is evidence you will pay again. It makes everything worse. The FIA has documented hundreds of cases where paying extended the blackmail for months and increased total demands ten-fold.
• Screenshot everything before you block. The threatening messages. The profile. Any accounts they used. The content they claimed to have. Save these screenshots somewhere safe — a different device, Google Drive, email to yourself. This is your evidence.
• Call FIA Cybercrime: 0800-02345. This number is free. It operates 24/7. The FIA Cybercrime Wing actively investigates these cases. You are not the first person to call about this specific type of blackmail. They have operational experience with these criminal networks. Report immediately — the sooner you report, the better the chance of action.
• File online: complaint.fia.gov.pk. If you cannot call, file online. Include all your screenshots and evidence.

After the immediate steps

• Tell someone you trust. The blackmailer is counting on your isolation and shame. Breaking that isolation removes their most powerful tool. You do not have to tell everyone — but tell one person who can support you through the process.
• Use StopNCII if images may have been shared. Visit stopncii.org and follow the process. This creates a hash of the image and distributes it to major platforms so it can be automatically detected and removed without you having to share the image with anyone.
• Prepare your closest contacts if necessary. If you believe they will carry out the threat and send content to family or colleagues, consider reaching out to those people first. "I was targeted in a scam and someone may send you something — please ignore and delete it." This is hard. It is also the most effective way to remove the shock value the blackmailers are counting on.
• Get mental health support. Being blackmailed is a traumatic experience. The shame, the fear, the vigilance it requires are real psychological burdens. Rozan Counselling (03-111-622-722) and Umang (0317-4288665) provide confidential support.

What happens next

In most cases, blackmailers who do not receive payment and who are blocked do not follow through on threats. Their business model depends on payment — actually distributing content costs them time, exposes them to further legal risk, and produces no revenue. Most move on to other targets.

This does not mean the threat was empty — some do follow through. But the statistics are consistently on the side of not paying and not complying. The FIA reports that the proportion of blackmailers who follow through on threats after no payment is significantly lower than those who continue demanding after payment.

Your best protection is removing the weapon, not paying the person holding it.

Pakistan law on blackmail and extortion

The criminal operating against you is breaking multiple laws simultaneously:

• PECA 2016, Section 21 — Non-consensual sharing of intimate imagery: up to 5 years, PKR 10M fine
• PECA 2016, Section 24 — Cyber stalking, harassment, intimidation: up to 3 years, PKR 1M fine
• Pakistan Penal Code, Section 503 — Criminal intimidation (threatening to harm reputation): up to 2 years or fine
• Pakistan Penal Code, Section 384 — Extortion (demanding money through threats): up to 3 years or fine

The FIA has the authority and the mandate to investigate all of these. They have done so successfully. Your complaint contributes to their operational picture of these criminal networks.

← Safety hub