Fake Sextortion "Assistance" Services Charge Thousands and Do Nothing — the FTC Sued One Company for It

If someone threatens to share your intimate images unless you pay, the stress can make paid "help" seem like a lifeline. But the FTC alleges that a company called Digital Forensics — behind websites like BlackmailHelpline.com, DigitalForensics.com, CyberBlackmail911.com, and SecurityBreach911.com — falsely promised to stop sextortion threats, prevent explicit material from spreading online, and report the perpetrators to criminal authorities. Instead, it charged customers thousands of dollars and failed to deliver, adding a financial burden to an already stressful situation.

Here is what actually helps: ignore and block the blackmailer, and never pay them or give anyone access to your devices or financial accounts. Report the threat to your local police and the FBI (fbi.gov, 1-800-225-5324) — if a minor is involved, report through the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children's CyberTipline. If an image was shared without your permission, the Take It Down Act requires platforms to remove it within 48 hours of your request, at no cost; if they don't, report it at TakeItDown.ftc.gov. Before paying any service for help, search its name with "scam," "review," or "complaint." Free support is available: the National Domestic Violence Hotline for adults (1-800-799-7233) and NCMEC for minors (1-800-843-5678).