Sextortion: How to avoid & Respond

1.?Stay Calm:

??It's natural to feel alarmed or anxious, but it's important to stay as calm as possible. Remember that sextortion is a criminal act, and responding with panic may give the attacker more leverage.

2. ?Do Not Give In:

??Do not comply with any demands, such as making payments or providing personal information. Giving in to the attacker's demands could make you more vulnerable to further exploitation.

3. ?Do Not Share Personal Information:

??Avoid sharing any personal or sensitive information with the caller. Do not provide them with additional material or data they could use against you.

4. ?Gather Information:

??If you feel comfortable, try to gather as much information as possible about the call. Note down the phone number, any details about the caller's identity they might have mentioned, and any specifics about the threat.

5. ?End the Call:

??Politely but firmly end the call. Do not engage in any further conversation or negotiation.

6. ?Report to Authorities:

??Report the incident to your local law enforcement agency. Provide them with all the information you've gathered about the call.

7. ?Block and Ignore:

??If the caller tries to contact you again, ignore their messages or calls. Block the phone number if possible.

8. ?Notify Your Contacts:

??If the attacker threatens to share explicit content with your contacts, consider informing your friends, family, and professional contacts about the situation. This can help mitigate potential damage.

9. ?Cybersecurity Measures:

??Review your online accounts and privacy settings. Make sure your social media profiles and other accounts have strong security settings.

10. ?Support and Counseling:

???Experiencing a sextortion attempt can be distressing. Reach out to friends, family, cyber professional or mental health care.

Remember that sextortion is a criminal activity, and your best course of action is to report it to the appropriate authorities(call at 1930 or complain on www.cybercrime.gov.in). By staying informed and taking the right steps, you can better protect yourself from potential harm and navigate the situation more effectively.