Recognising scams and sextortion — and what to do

Most people you meet in an anonymous chat just want to talk. A small number are there to take money or to blackmail. Knowing how these schemes work is the best protection, and knowing what to do if one happens to you takes away most of their power.

Sextortion: how it usually works

1. Someone friendly and flirtatious starts a chat, often on video, and quickly steers it towards sexual content.
2. They persuade you to undress or perform on camera, or to send intimate photos. Their "video" may be a pre-recorded clip.
3. They secretly record you, then threaten to send the recording to your family, friends or employer unless you pay — usually by UPI, gift cards or cryptocurrency.
4. If you pay, they almost always ask for more.

Warning signs

• Fast flattery and an unusually quick move to sexual talk.
• Pressure to switch to another app or to video "just for a minute".
• A camera that seems frozen, looped or oddly framed.
• Questions about your workplace, family or social media accounts.

Other common scams

• Romance and sympathy scams: a sad story — a medical emergency, a stranded traveller — ending in a request for money.
• Investment and trading tips: a new "friend" who offers to show you a sure way to earn from crypto or stock trading.
• Fake officials: someone claiming to be police, CBI, customs or a courier company, saying you are in trouble and must pay a fine. Real officials never ask for money over chat or video call.
• OTP and KYC requests: anyone asking for an OTP, UPI PIN, card number or KYC documents. Never share these.

If someone threatens you

1. Do not pay. Paying rarely ends the threats and often makes them worse.
2. Stop replying. Do not argue or negotiate.
3. Save evidence. Take screenshots of the chat, the person's profile, payment requests and any account IDs or UPI handles. Note the date and time.
4. Report and block them on every platform where they contacted you. On StrangerFun, see how to report and block.
5. Report it to the police. In India:

• Call the National Cyber Crime Helpline 1930 (especially urgent if you have already sent money — fast reporting can help freeze the transfer).
• File a complaint online at cybercrime.gov.in.

6. Tell someone you trust. You have done nothing that makes you deserve this. The blackmailer is the one committing a crime.

If intimate images of you have been shared without your consent, you can also ask platforms to remove them. Many large platforms have dedicated reporting forms for non-consensual intimate images.

If you are under 18

Prevention in one line

Do not do anything on camera, or send any picture, that you would not be comfortable with a stranger keeping forever. Our safety guide has more everyday habits.