Finding intimate images sent to a victim's parents is a specific harassment tactic designed to cause maximum emotional harm and damage family relationships. It is often used as part of a sextortion scheme when victims refuse to pay, the perpetrator threatens to send images to family and then follows through. This conduct constitutes NCII distribution, harassment, and potentially criminal extortion.

If images have been sent to your parents, the immediate priorities are: (1) finding where your images appear online to address further distribution; (2) preserving evidence for possible criminal prosecution; and (3) seeking support for both yourself and your parents.

RAINN at 1-800-656-4673 and the Cyber Civil Rights Initiative at 1-844-878-2274 provide support specifically for situations involving family members in NCII incidents. The National Domestic Violence Hotline also offers guidance for situations where NCII is part of abuse by an intimate partner.

What to do right now

  1. Start a biometric scan to find where your face appears onlineAddress further distribution to additional family members or contacts.
  2. Preserve all evidence of the family notificationDocument the messages or emails sent to your parents for law enforcement.
  3. File a police reportFinding images sent to family members is an aggravating factor under many state statutes and can increase criminal penalties.
  4. Access support resources for yourself and your parentsRAINN (1-800-656-4673) and CCRI (1-844-878-2274) provide confidential support.
  5. Consider a civil protective orderA civil protection order can prevent further contact and further distribution of content.