Digital Security for Extortion Situations

If someone is using digital tools to threaten or extort you, taking immediate steps to secure your accounts, devices, and online presence can reduce risk and preserve evidence.

This is not a technical guide. For advanced digital security, consult a professional. These are immediate steps you can take today.

Immediate Steps (Do These Now)

1. Screenshot Everything Before It Disappears

WhatsApp

• Open the chat → tap the threat message
• Screenshot the message, the sender’s number, and the time
• Go to the contact info → screenshot the phone number and profile photo
• Do not block yet — blocking can delete message history on some versions

Instagram / Facebook

• Screenshot the DM or comment
• Tap the profile name → screenshot profile info
• Screenshot any mutual followers or connections

Email

• Screenshot the email header (sender, subject, date)
• Forward the email to a trusted contact or backup account
• Do not delete

Phone Calls

• Screenshot your call log (number, date, time, duration)
• Note what was said in a separate document with date and time

2. Lock Down Social Media

Instagram Privacy

• Profile → Menu → Settings → Privacy
• Set account to Private
• Turn off Activity Status
• Review Story Sharing — disable resharing
• Check Tags and Mentions — require approval

Facebook Privacy

• Settings → Privacy → Limit Past Posts
• Settings → Privacy → Who can look you up? → Friends
• Settings → Timeline → Review tags before they appear
• Remove personal information from profile (phone, email, location)

WhatsApp Privacy

• Settings → Privacy → Last Seen → Nobody
• Settings → Privacy → Profile Photo → My Contacts
• Settings → Privacy → About → My Contacts
• Settings → Privacy → Status → My Contacts

3. Secure Your Accounts

Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

• Email (Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo) — Settings → Security → 2FA
• Social media — Settings → Security → Two-Factor Authentication
• Banking apps — already required by most banks

Use Strong, Unique Passwords

• Don’t reuse passwords across accounts
• If you can’t remember them, write them down and store securely — do not save in unencrypted notes
• Consider a password manager: Bitwarden (free) or 1Password (paid)

4. How to Block and Report on WhatsApp

Block a Number

• Open the chat → Tap the contact name at top → Scroll down → Block
• This stops messages and calls from that number

Report to WhatsApp

• Open the chat → Tap the contact name → Scroll down → Report
• WhatsApp may ban the number if enough reports are filed

Important: Blocking does not delete screenshots you’ve already taken. Report to WhatsApp after you have preserved evidence.

Evidence Preservation Checklist

• Screenshot all threatening messages
• Screenshot sender profiles and numbers
• Screenshot call logs with dates/times
• Forward threatening emails to a backup account
• Note verbal threats in a dated document
• Save screenshots to a folder labeled something neutral
• Enable 2FA on email and social media
• Change passwords on all important accounts
• Set social media accounts to private
• Tell one trusted person what is happening

Free Security Tools

What NOT to Do

• Do not delete messages before screenshotting — this is evidence
• Do not change your number immediately — police may need to trace it
• Do not factory reset your phone — destroys evidence
• Do not install unknown “security apps” — some are scams
• Do not respond to threats — any response signals engagement
• Do not share your new passwords with anyone — not even family

Need Help?

• Get Help Now — Emotional support, legal aid, safety planning
• Evidence Preservation — Full evidence guide
• Report — Report to police in your province

Last reviewed: June 2026