The FTC published a consumer alert October 13, 2026 about companies that offer paid fixes for sextortion, where someone threatens to share intimate images unless paid. It cites its lawsuit against Digital Forensics, the company behind sites including BlackmailHelpline.com, DigitalForensics.com, CyberBlackmail911.com and SecurityBreach911.com. The FTC alleges the company falsely promised to stop sextortion threats, prevent explicit material from spreading and report perpetrators to criminal authorities, charged customers thousands of dollars, and failed to deliver. These are allegations.
The FTC’s advice: ignore and block the blackmailer, do not pay or give access to devices or financial accounts, tell someone you trust, and report to local police and the FBI (fbi.gov, 1-800-225-5324). Cases involving a minor go to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s CyberTipline.
For images shared without permission, report them to the platform. Under the Take It Down Act, platforms must remove intimate images within 48 hours of a request, for free. If one does not, report to the FTC at TakeItDown.ftc.gov. Before paying any service, search its name with words like “scam” or “complaint.”