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Preserve what is already on the device, report quickly, and do not create new copies of suspected child sexual-abuse material. If a child may be in immediate danger, contact local emergency services or law enforcement first. Otherwise, keep the existing chat and account context, capture screenshots where it is safe to do so, record identifiers and times, stop communicating with the suspected offender, and report through the appropriate official channel.
This guidance is based on U.S. federal sources and law. Reporting portals, evidence rules, and emergency numbers differ in other countries.
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1. Put the child’s immediate safety first
Evidence preservation never outranks safety. If a child is being threatened, is expected to meet someone, is missing, is being watched in person, or may harm themselves, call local emergency services or law enforcement immediately. Tell the operator what is happening, where the child is, and whether the suspected offender knows the child’s location.
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Do not confront, threaten, trace, bait, or investigate the suspected offender yourself. A confrontation can increase the child’s risk, destroy useful context, or prompt the account holder to delete material and move to another service. A trusted adult, police officer, child-protection professional, or emergency dispatcher can help decide the safest next action.
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2. Preserve the communications that already exist
The FBI’s Staying Safe Online: Kids and Teens guidance says: “Do not delete chats or shared images or videos. Take screenshots, share images, etc. of communications.” The practical meaning is to preserve the conversation and its surrounding context before reporting, blocking, logging out, or changing devices, as long as doing so does not expose the child to additional danger.
Keep the surrounding context, not just one message
A single threatening line may not show how contact began, what promises were made, or whether the sender changed accounts. Preserve the visible thread around the incident when possible. Useful context can include:
- the child’s and sender’s usernames, profile names, display names, and account IDs;
- email addresses, telephone numbers, and other contact details shown in the account;
- the platform, game, website, or messaging service name;
- profile URLs, message links, invite links, and other URLs already visible;
- dates, times, and the time zone shown by the device or service;
- the sequence of requests, threats, promises, payments, or attempted meetings; and
- any visible report, moderation, or account-status messages.
Do not edit screenshots in a way that removes the original timestamp, username, URL, or surrounding messages. If you need to obscure a child’s identity for a personal working copy, keep the original capture unchanged and do not upload either version to public services.
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Take screenshots safely
Use the device’s normal screenshot function. Capture the account header or profile identifier, the relevant messages, and enough adjacent conversation to establish who said what and when. If a long thread will not fit on one screen, take a sequence of overlapping images so the order is clear. Keep the files in their original form and note the order in which they were taken.
Do not send screenshots to friends, post them on social media, or place them in a public cloud folder. Share them only through an official reporting process or directly with law enforcement when requested. If a screenshot would require opening an unknown attachment, following a suspicious link, or repeatedly contacting the sender, stop; the added risk is not justified by a better image.
Write a factual incident note
Alongside the screenshots, make a short chronological note while the details are fresh. Record when you first noticed the account, what the child reported, what you personally observed, the service used, and any actions already taken. Use neutral descriptions rather than guesses about the sender’s identity or motives. Include your local time zone, and distinguish between the time shown by the service and the time you observed the screen.
Keep the note separate from the original screenshots so the files remain unaltered. A paper notebook or a simple local text document is sufficient; no special evidence product is required.
A quick preservation checklist
Before opening a reporting form, check that you have safely recorded the platform name, the account or profile identifiers, visible email addresses or phone numbers, relevant URLs, dates and times, and a concise sequence of events. Note whether the child knows the sender offline, whether an in-person meeting was proposed, whether money was requested, and whether the account has already been blocked or removed. These details can be reported even when no image or video should be downloaded.
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If several accounts or services are involved, label your notes by platform and keep the timeline in chronological order. Do not merge separate usernames into one identity unless the service itself links them. If a display name changes, record each version and the time it was visible. If the service shows a warning, removal notice, or report confirmation, preserve that screen and its reference number.
3. Do not create new copies of suspected illegal material
Official guidance tells people to retain incident information and report it. It does not instruct private reporters to download, duplicate, forward, email, or upload suspected child sexual-abuse material as proof. Do not save an image or video from a server merely because you think investigators might want it.
Do not ask the child to resend an image, take a new photograph, or record another video. Do not forward the material to yourself or another person. Avoid opening links or attachments beyond what is necessary to preserve already-visible context. If an image or video is already visible in the conversation, preserving the conversation and its identifiers is different from downloading a separate copy.
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4. Stop escalation without destroying the record
Do not pay a blackmailer, send additional images, negotiate, threaten the account, or continue the conversation to gather more proof. The FBI warns that cooperating rarely stops blackmail and harassment; it advises asking a trusted adult or law enforcement for help before sending money or more images.
Preserve the existing material first when it is safe, then use the platform’s blocking and reporting controls or follow law-enforcement advice. If blocking immediately is necessary to protect the child, do it and tell investigators what was visible before the block. Never promise the child that paying or complying will make the threats end.
In sextortion, a demand may arrive with a deadline or a threat to send material to family, classmates, or followers. The deadline is not a reason to send more material or keep the offender engaged. Record the demand, the account that made it, and any payment information already visible, then seek help. If money has already been sent, report that fact accurately and retain the transaction details already available.
5. Report promptly through the right channel
In the United States, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) CyberTipline is the centralized reporting system for suspected online exploitation of children. NCMEC says its staff review each tip, work to identify a potential location, and make the report available to the appropriate law-enforcement agency for possible investigation.
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The FBI also accepts reports through a local FBI field office, 1-800-CALL-FBI, or tips.fbi.gov. The Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) is an additional route for internet-enabled crime, including sextortion. A local police or sheriff’s department remains appropriate, especially when the child is nearby or an immediate protective response is needed.
Choosing a U.S. reporting route
| Route | Primary scope | Use it when | Information to provide | Jurisdiction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NCMEC CyberTipline | Suspected online exploitation of children | You need the U.S. child-exploitation-specific reporting system | Existing messages, screenshots, account identifiers, URLs, dates, times, platform name, and incident description | U.S. centralized intake; NCMEC can make the tip available to the appropriate law-enforcement agency |
| Local emergency services or police | Immediate danger, local contact, or urgent protective action | The child may be at risk now, a meeting is imminent, or physical safety is involved | Child’s location, immediate threat, suspected offender details, and the preserved incident context | Local or regional law enforcement |
| FBI field office, 1-800-CALL-FBI, or tips.fbi.gov | Federal law-enforcement reporting | The conduct may involve federal jurisdiction or you need to contact the FBI directly | Usernames, email addresses, phone numbers, websites or platforms, URLs, communications, and timeline | United States federal |
| IC3 | Internet-enabled crime, including sextortion | The incident involves online extortion, financial demands, or other internet crime | All incident information already held, including account identifiers, platforms, messages, payment details, and dates | U.S. internet-crime intake |
These routes overlap. You may use more than one when the facts justify it, but do not delay an emergency call while completing an online form. None of the routes guarantees that an investigation will be opened or that a particular outcome will follow.
What to write in a report
Start with the clearest facts: who appears to be involved, the child’s age or approximate age if known, the service used, the account identifiers, when contact occurred, what was requested or threatened, and whether money, images, or an in-person meeting were involved. State what you personally saw and what the child told you, separating those two sources of information.
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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchExplain that the original communications remain on the device, identify the screenshots or notes you have, and say whether the account has been blocked or reported. If the service has already removed content, record that fact and include any notification or case number it displayed. Do not embellish, speculate about the sender’s identity, or claim that a crime is proven when the facts are still being assessed.
If you are unsure whether conduct meets a legal definition, report the observable facts anyway. Intake personnel can evaluate jurisdiction and next steps. A report can explain uncertainty—for example, that the sender’s age is unknown or that an account may be impersonating someone—without omitting the username, URL, threat, or request that prompted concern.
6. Keep the submission record
After submitting a report, save the submission date, confirmation number, case number, and the agency or service contacted if any of those are provided. Keep these details with your factual incident note. If an investigator contacts you, ask how they want additional files supplied; do not send suspected illegal material through ordinary email or unsolicited file-sharing links.
Preserve the device and the original account state as much as practical until law enforcement or a child-protection professional advises otherwise. Do not factory-reset the phone, delete the account, or hand the device to another person without documenting what happened. If the child needs a replacement device for safety, tell investigators what was changed and retain the old device securely rather than continuing to access the account unnecessarily.
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7. Understand what U.S. law requires of providers
Current 18 U.S.C. § 2258A(b) allows a provider’s report to include identifying information, an email or IP address, a URL, payment information, visual depictions, and the complete communication with transmission data and attached digital files. Section 2258A(h) says a completed provider report is treated as a request to preserve the report’s contents for one year, including reasonably accessible related files that may provide context.
This is a provider obligation. It is not an instruction for a private reporter to collect or redistribute illegal material, and it does not mean you should wait a year before reporting. Prompt reporting gives investigators the best chance of obtaining account records while they are still available.
The preservation rule also does not guarantee that every item will remain available, that a provider will identify a suspect, or that a case will be opened. It explains why submitting a complete report promptly matters: the provider’s report can trigger preservation of its contents and reasonably accessible related files, while delay can allow accounts or communications to disappear.
8. Common mistakes and safer alternatives
| Mistake | Why it can cause harm | Safer alternative |
|---|---|---|
| Deleting the chat immediately | Removes timestamps, account identifiers, and the conversation’s sequence | Preserve the existing thread and screenshots first when safe, then report and block as advised |
| Downloading or forwarding an image “for proof” | Creates another copy of potentially illegal material and increases exposure | Report the incident using existing context, identifiers, and visible communications |
| Paying or sending another image | May intensify blackmail and does not reliably end harassment | Stop contact and seek help from law enforcement or a trusted adult |
| Confronting or baiting the account | Can increase danger and prompt deletion or migration to another account | Record what already exists and let investigators handle contact |
| Posting screenshots publicly | Exposes the child and may spread illegal material | Use an official reporting channel or provide material privately when requested |
| Guessing the offender’s identity | Can misdirect an investigation and harm an uninvolved person | Report observable identifiers and clearly label assumptions as unknown |
| Waiting for a perfect archive | Content, accounts, and links may disappear while you keep collecting | Report the information already available and add details if officials request them |
| Using only a cropped message | Removes information about the account, timing, and conversation sequence | Capture the profile or account header and adjacent messages when safe |
9. How large the reporting problem is
NCMEC recorded more than 36.2 million CyberTipline reports in 2023, covering 105,653,162 data files reported that year. Reports of online enticement rose by more than 300%, from 44,155 in 2021 to 186,819 in 2023. These are reports and reported data files, not counts of unique victims or confirmed crimes. They illustrate why complete identifiers and a clear timeline help intake teams sort urgent cases.
10. If you are outside the United States
The workflow remains broadly useful: protect the child, preserve existing context, avoid creating copies, stop contact, and report promptly. However, the CyberTipline, FBI channels, IC3, and the one-year preservation rule described above are U.S.-specific. Use your country’s police emergency number, national child-protection agency, and official online-exploitation reporting portal. If you are unsure which agency has authority, local police or a child-protection professional can direct the report.
Frequently asked questions
Should I delete the messages after taking screenshots?
No. The FBI advises not deleting chats or shared images or videos. Keep the existing conversation and account context unless an official advises a different step or immediate safety requires blocking or removing access.
Do I need to download the image or video as proof?
No. Do not download, duplicate, forward, email, or upload suspected child sexual-abuse material solely as evidence. Report the visible context, identifiers, URLs, dates, and times through an official channel.
Can I continue chatting to learn the offender’s identity?
No. Do not bait, threaten, negotiate, or continue contact to gather proof. It can increase risk and prompt deletion or migration. Let law enforcement handle investigative contact.
What if the platform removed the account before I reported it?
Report what you recorded: the username, profile name or ID, platform, URLs, dates, times, visible messages, and any removal notice or reference number. State clearly that the content is no longer visible.
Which U.S. service should I use for sextortion?
Use NCMEC’s CyberTipline for suspected online exploitation of a child. IC3 accepts internet-crime and sextortion reports, and the FBI accepts reports through a field office, 1-800-CALL-FBI, or tips.fbi.gov. Call local emergency services first if danger is immediate.
Is a special evidence app, storage device, or VPN required?
No. A phone or computer that already holds the communications, its ordinary screenshot function, and a factual note are sufficient for the workflow described here. The priority is safe preservation and prompt reporting, not buying a product.
The practical rule
Save the conversation and its identifiers, not a new collection of illegal files. Do not pay, send more material, or investigate the suspect. Report quickly through emergency services when danger is immediate and through the appropriate child-exploitation or internet-crime channel for the incident, then retain the confirmation and follow investigators’ instructions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I save before reporting online child exploitation?
Preserve the existing chat and surrounding context when safe: usernames, profile names and account IDs, email addresses, phone numbers, platform and website names, URLs, dates, times, time zone information, and visible report or account-status messages. Take ordinary screenshots without editing away identifying context, and write a factual timeline.
Should I delete the messages or block the account?
Do not delete chats or shared images or videos before reporting when it is safe to preserve them. After preserving the record, use blocking and reporting controls or follow law-enforcement advice. Block immediately if needed to protect the child, and tell investigators what was visible beforehand.
Do I need to download the suspected image as proof?
No. Do not download, duplicate, forward, email, or upload suspected child sexual-abuse material solely as evidence. Report the existing conversation, identifiers, URLs, dates, times, and incident context.
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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteWhere can I report online grooming or sextortion in the United States?
Use NCMEC’s CyberTipline for suspected online exploitation of children. The FBI accepts reports through a field office, 1-800-CALL-FBI, or tips.fbi.gov. IC3 accepts internet-enabled crime and sextortion reports. Contact local emergency services or police first when danger is immediate.
What if I am outside the United States?
Use the same safety sequence, but contact your country’s emergency number, police, child-protection agency, and official online-exploitation reporting portal. The CyberTipline, FBI channels, IC3, and the one-year provider-preservation rule described here are U.S.-specific.
The Bottom Line
Preserve existing communications and identifiers, do not create or distribute new copies of suspected illegal material, stop contact with the suspected offender, and report promptly. Use emergency services for immediate danger; in the United States, use NCMEC’s CyberTipline and the FBI, with IC3 for internet-enabled crime and sextortion.
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