What to do when someone uses personal information to threaten, pressure, or intimidate you.
Short answer
Preserve the evidence and avoid sending more information or money under pressure. Secure affected accounts and use appropriate platform, law-enforcement, or support channels depending on the threat.
Do not delete threatening messages before saving copies, screenshots, account details, and timestamps.
Avoid sending additional money, passwords, OTPs, identity documents, or private information because someone is threatening you.
Secure accounts connected to the exposed information and review unusual activity.
If the threat involves immediate physical danger, extortion, intimate images, or serious criminal conduct, use an appropriate emergency or reporting channel.
Check it now
A practical check for what to do when personal information has been exposed online.
Open the checkSomething already happened?
If your personal information has been exposed, work out exactly what information was shared, secure affected accounts, watch for suspicious activity and avoid giving the same information to anyone who contacts you unexpectedly.
You've discovered a fake profile, account, or message pretending to be you — often used to scam your friends, family, or contacts.
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