Can a romance scammer use photos they get from me against me?
Yes. Scammers who receive intimate or personal photos often use them to threaten you with exposure (sextortion) unless you pay money. Stop contact and do not pay.
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Explanation
Once a scammer has intimate images of you — either sent willingly during a relationship or obtained through account hacking — they may shift tactics and demand payment to keep the images private. This is called sextortion. The threats feel terrifying: they may claim they will send images to your family, employer, or contacts. Paying once almost never ends the demands; it signals that you will pay and the amount typically increases. Evidence from law enforcement agencies consistently shows that scammers rarely carry out the threat if payment is refused, because following through would risk criminal investigation for them. The priority is to stop paying, preserve evidence, and report to authorities.
Common red flags
- Romantic partner online requests intimate images early in the relationship
- After receiving images, tone changes suddenly — threats appear
- Demands for money to delete the images, with a deadline
- Threat to send images to named contacts unless you pay
What to do now
- Stop contact and do not pay anything
- Screenshot the threats as evidence before blocking
- Report to your national cybercrime or police unit
- Contact the platform to report the account and request content removal
Frequently asked questions
Will they really send the images if I don't pay?
In the majority of reported cases, scammers do not follow through when payment is refused — escalating would increase their legal exposure. Reporting promptly can also trigger platform takedowns before distribution.