If something has gone wrong, you are not alone, and it is not too late to act. These free organizations handle these situations every day.
If anyone is in immediate danger, call 911. For crisis support, call or text 988.
Last reviewed: October 18, 2026. Contact details can change; confirm on each organization’s website.
Sextortion, exploitation, and explicit images
Sextortion is when someone threatens to share a child’s private images unless they pay or send more.
- NCMEC CyberTipline: report online enticement, sextortion, or child sexual abuse material at report.cybertip.org or 1-800-843-5678.
- Take It Down: a free NCMEC service that helps remove nude or sexual images of anyone under 18 from participating platforms, without sending the image itself. takeitdown.ncmec.org
- FBI: report threats and sextortion at tips.fbi.gov or 1-800-CALL-FBI.
The first hour
If your child is being threatened
- Stop all contact. Do not reply, negotiate, or pay; paying rarely ends the threats.
- Keep the evidence. Screenshot usernames, profile links, and messages, and do not delete the account.
- Report to the CyberTipline and the FBI, then report the account on the platform.
- Use Take It Down to start removing images.
- Stay with your child. They are the victim; tell them clearly that you are not angry with them.
Scams, fraud, and identity theft
The first hour
If money or information was sent to a scammer
- Call your bank or card issuer using the number on the back of your card. Ask them to stop or reverse the payment and watch the account.
- Change the password on any account involved, starting with your email, and turn on MFA.
- If you shared your Social Security number, place a free credit freeze at all three bureaus.
- Report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, and at IC3.gov if money was lost online.
- Tell your family. Scammers often return, sometimes posing as someone who can “recover” your money.
- FTC: report scams at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
- IdentityTheft.gov: the FTC’s step-by-step recovery plan for adult and child identity theft. identitytheft.gov
- FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3): report online fraud and losses at ic3.gov.
- Credit freezes: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Freezes are free for adults and children.
- Scam texts: forward them to 7726 (SPAM) to report them to your mobile carrier, then delete them.
Bullying, mental health, and crisis support
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org. Available 24/7.
- Crisis Text Line: text HOME to 741741.
- StopBullying.gov: guidance on cyberbullying and working with schools. stopbullying.gov
Trusted guides for parents
- Common Sense Media: age ratings and reviews for apps, games, and shows. commonsensemedia.org
- ConnectSafely: free parent guides to individual apps and platforms. connectsafely.org
- NetSmartz: NCMEC’s online safety education for kids. missingkids.org/netsmartz
OnlineFamilySafety.com is independent and is not affiliated with any organization listed above.
