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Scam alert

Service Charges Thousands to Stop Sextortion? Free Help Exists

Posted

United States · ftc.gov · Arrives by a search, video, or social media ad

The short answer

A company that charges thousands of dollars to track down a sextortionist, and tells you not to block the person threatening you, is a red flag. On October 13, 2026, the FTC said a federal court had temporarily halted one such service while its lawsuit goes forward; the FTC alleges people paid $1,499 to $20,000 and the company often just blocked the sextortionist. Don't pay the person threatening you or a paid fix. Stop replying, block them, report them to the FBI and the platform, and talk with someone you trust.

What is happening

On October 13, 2026, the Federal Trade Commission said a federal court had temporarily halted a company that advertised "sextortion assistance services" on search, video-sharing, and social media platforms, and the FTC alleges it collected at least $60 million from people facing sextortion threats. According to the FTC, people paid $1,499 to $20,000 for a first package that was supposed to track the sextortionist and report the crime to law enforcement, and were then pressured to buy a second phase, but in many cases the company only blocked the sextortionist, made up chat transcripts, and did not contact law enforcement. The Record from Recorded Future News reported on October 14 that staff allegedly told customers not to block sextortionists, against long-standing FBI advice; these are allegations, and the court will decide the case.

How to recognize it

  • The service tells you not to block the person threatening you and to let its team keep talking to them instead.
  • It promises to track down the sextortionist, find where they are, stop the threats, or hand evidence to police for an arrest.
  • It asks for thousands of dollars up front, then pushes a second, more expensive phase.
  • The sales call leans on your specific fears, such as your job or your marriage.
  • You found it through a paid ad, and its glowing reviews may not be real.

What to do instead

  1. Don't pay the person threatening you, and don't give them access to your devices or accounts. Stop replying and block them.
  2. Talk with someone you trust, such as a friend, a family member, or a counselor.
  3. Report the person to your local police and to the FBI at fbi.gov or 1-800-225-5324. If a minor is involved, report it through the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children's CyberTipline.
  4. If an image was shared, ask the platform to remove it. The Take It Down Act requires platforms to remove intimate images within 48 hours of your request, for free. If one doesn't, report it at TakeItDown.ftc.gov.
  5. Before paying any company for help, search its name with words like scam, review, or complaint, and scroll past the paid results.
  6. If you want to tell someone, the rule is: block, report, and talk to someone you trust before you pay anyone.

If it already happened

Responding to one of these is common and understandable. These steps are what people usually take next.

  1. Reaching out to a company that promised help in a frightening moment is common and understandable. These ads are placed where people look for help.
  2. If you paid a service that did not deliver, ask your bank or card company about disputing the charge, and report the company at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
  3. Free counseling and support are available. Minors can call the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-843-5678, and adults can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233.
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Common questions

Shouldn't I keep talking to the person so they don't post anything?
The FTC's advice is to ignore and block the blackmailer, stop communicating, and not pay. The FTC alleges the company it sued told customers the opposite, which it says runs against the advice of the FBI and other law enforcement experts.
Are all paid image-removal services scams?
Not necessarily, but look into them before you pay. The FTC suggests searching the company's name with words like scam, review, or complaint, and points out that under the Take It Down Act, platforms must remove intimate images for free within 48 hours of a request.

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Service Charges Thousands to Stop Sextortion? Free Help Exists

A company that charges thousands of dollars to track down a sextortionist, and tells you not to block the person threatening you, is a red flag. On October 13, 2026, the FTC said a federal court had temporarily halted one such service while its lawsuit goes forward; the FTC alleges people paid $1,499 to $20,000 and the company often just blocked the sextortionist. Don't pay the person threatening you or a paid fix. Stop replying, block them, report them to the FBI and the platform, and talk with someone you trust.

Read the full alert: https://endscamsproject.com/latest-scams/sextortion-assistance-service-scam

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