How to report sextortion in Australia
Don't pay, and stop replying. Screenshot the chat, then report it to the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) if you're under 18 or to police if you're 18 or over, and to the platform where they contacted you.
Victoria Police puts it plainly: if you fall for a sextortion scam, you are a victim, it is not your fault, and it's nothing to be ashamed of. The ACCCE tells young people the same thing: you will not be in trouble with law enforcement for asking for help, even if you've already sent images or paid.
Key points
In short: don't pay, keep the evidence, and report it to the ACCCE or police, and to eSafety if images are shared or threatened.
- Don't pay. The AFP warns that paying or sending more content "will lead to more demands".
- Under 18: report to the AFP-led ACCCE. 18 or over: report to police through ReportCyber or your local police station.
- If your images have been shared, or someone is threatening to share them, the ACCCE and Victoria Police point you to the eSafety Commissioner for help getting them removed.
- If anyone is in immediate danger, call Triple Zero (000). For non-urgent police help, call the Police Assistance Line on 131 444.
Under 18? Report it to the ACCCE. You will not be in trouble with law enforcement for asking for help. If images have been shared, the eSafety Commissioner can help get them removed. If anyone is in immediate danger, call Triple Zero (000).
Someone who actually has your images
Sextortion is blackmail: someone threatens to share intimate images of you unless you do what they demand. Victoria Police says "Sextortion is a crime."
The AFP lists the warning signs: friend requests or random adds from people you don't know, sudden sexual questions or images from a new profile, pressure to move the chat to a different app, and excuses such as a "broken webcam" to avoid video calls. The AFP says that in early 2024 the ACCCE was receiving around 300 sextortion reports a month targeting children.
What to do in the first hour
Don't pay, screenshot the chat, block and report the account to the platform, then report to the ACCCE (under 18) or police (18 or over).
- Stop the chat. Don't respond to their demands, and don't send more images or make payments: the AFP warns that this leads to more demands.
- Take screenshots of the chat and the blackmailer's profile to support a police report.
- Block the account and report it to the platform where they contacted you.
- Under 18: report to the ACCCE. 18 or over: report to police, through ReportCyber or your local police station.
- If your images have been shared or someone is threatening to share them, the ACCCE and Victoria Police point you to eSafety for help getting them removed.
- If you're an adult and you paid money, Victoria Police advises reporting through ReportCyber.
Where to report
Report to the ACCCE if you're under 18 and to police if you're 18 or over, and to eSafety if images are shared or threatened. Use the table to find your situation.
| Your situation | Where to report | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Someone holds real images of you (18 or over) | ReportCyber or your local police station; 000 if anyone is in danger | Victoria Police says adults can report to local police, and to ReportCyber if they paid. Non-urgent police line: 131 444. |
| You are under 18 | ACCCE: accce.gov.au/report | The AFP and Victoria Police direct sextortion of under-18s to the ACCCE. |
| You are 18 or over and images are already posted | eSafety Commissioner | The ACCCE and Victoria Police point to eSafety for removal. |
| You paid | ReportCyber (ACCCE if under 18) | Victoria Police advises adults to use it if they paid money. |
| The platform where contact happened (a social app, game or dating app) | The platform's own in-app report option | The AFP says to block the profile and notify the platform. |
Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE): if you're under 18
The AFP-led ACCCE is where the AFP and Victoria Police direct sextortion of anyone under 18. Report at accce.gov.au/report. The ACCCE also has a dedicated sextortion help page.
ReportCyber or your local police: if you're 18 or over
Victoria Police says adults can report sextortion to local police, and advises using ReportCyber in particular if you've paid money. The ACCCE's report page describes ReportCyber as "a national online system to securely report instances of cybercrime" and says to report to ReportCyber in the first instance, or to your local police.
eSafety Commissioner: if images have been shared or threatened
The ACCCE and Victoria Police point to the eSafety Commissioner for help getting images removed.
Triple Zero (000) and the Police Assistance Line (131 444)
If anyone is in immediate danger, call 000. For anything that isn't an emergency, the Police Assistance Line is 131 444.
If your images were posted
Report the images to the platform and to the eSafety Commissioner, which the ACCCE and Victoria Police point to for removal. Report the blackmail to the ACCCE (under 18) or to police (18 or over).
If you are a parent
If your child is being sextorted, don't pay, take screenshots of the chat, block the profile and notify the platform, and report the crime to the ACCCE at accce.gov.au/sextortionhelp. The AFP also advises reassuring your child that it isn't their fault and that help is available. If your child or someone you know is at risk, call 000.
If you already paid
Don't send more payments: the AFP warns that this leads to more demands. If you're an adult, Victoria Police advises reporting through ReportCyber if you paid money.
Why report the wallet address publicly
You can report a wallet address on Chainabuse, and check there whether an address has already been reported.
Frequently asked questions
The short answers: don't pay, keep the evidence, and report it to the ACCCE or police.
1. Where do I report sextortion in Australia?
If you're under 18, report to the ACCCE at accce.gov.au/report. If you're 18 or over, report to police through ReportCyber at cyber.gov.au or at your local police station. If your images have been shared or someone is threatening to share them, the ACCCE and Victoria Police point you to eSafety at esafety.gov.au/report. In an emergency, call 000. You can also report a wallet address on Chainabuse.
2. Is sextortion a crime in Australia?
Yes. Victoria Police says "Sextortion is a crime" and describes it as blackmail, and the ACCCE also calls it a crime. The ACCCE says sexual images of anyone under 18 are considered child abuse material. These government pages do not name the specific offence.
3. Should I pay the person blackmailing me?
No. The AFP warns that paying or sending more content leads to more demands.
4. Will I get in trouble for sending the images?
No. The ACCCE tells young people they will not be in trouble with law enforcement for asking for help, even if they've already sent images or paid.
5. My child is being sextorted. What do I do?
Don't pay. Screenshot the chat, block the profile and notify the platform, and report to the ACCCE at accce.gov.au/sextortionhelp. Reassure your child that it isn't their fault. If they're in danger, call 000.
6. How do I get my images taken down?
Report them to the platform, and to the eSafety Commissioner, which the ACCCE and Victoria Police point to for removal.
