Deepfake Sextortion UK: Fake Images or Video as Leverage
A fake sexual image or video can still cause real harm. Stop contact, preserve the messages, report the account and seek support rather than paying.
What the scam is
Sextortion is a threat to share sexual images, video or information unless the target pays or does something else. Police guidance confirms that the material can be genuine, hacked, edited or created with AI. A target can therefore be a victim even if they never made or shared an intimate image.
Current police guidance directly confirms this broader pattern, so anyone targeted should take a threat seriously regardless of how convincing the material looks.
What to do
- Stop communicating and block the offender after preserving account details.
- Do not pay. Payment does not guarantee deletion and may lead to further demands.
- Keep messages, usernames, URLs, payment instructions and any material sent as evidence. You do not need to delay a police report while collecting everything.
- Report the account and content to the platform.
- If you paid, contact the bank immediately and do not send more.
- Tell someone you trust; this is not the victim’s fault.
Adults who possess the relevant image can consider StopNCII, which creates a hash on the device for participating platforms. People under 18 should use the child-specific routes signposted by police, Childline, CEOP or Report Remove rather than sending images to an adult service.
The law is not uniform across the UK
The law differs across England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
In England and Wales, the Online Safety Act 2023 introduced offences concerning sharing or threatening to share intimate images, including deepfakes. Separately, GOV.UK states that a new offence covering the creation of non-consensual sexually explicit deepfakes — introduced by the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025, not the Online Safety Act — came into force on 6 February 2026. The exact offence depends on the image, conduct, intent, consent and date.
Scotland has a separate offence covering disclosure or threatened disclosure of intimate images, including deepfakes where the statutory conditions are met. As of July 2026, the Scottish Government was consulting on new creation and request offences; the England-and-Wales creation offences do not extend to Scotland.
Northern Ireland also has separate law. Official Northern Ireland material still described a gap for sexually explicit deepfakes of adults and proposed legislation was under consideration in 2026. Do not state that the England-and-Wales creation offence applies there.
Legal outcomes depend on the image, conduct, date, location, consent and intent. Report the behaviour to police rather than trying to classify the offence yourself.
Reporting and support
Report fraud at reportfraud.police.uk or on 0300 123 2040 in England, Wales or Northern Ireland; in Scotland, report to Police Scotland on 101. Threats and intimate-image abuse can also be reported directly to police; call 999 if someone is in immediate danger.
The Revenge Porn Helpline supports UK adults affected by intimate-image abuse, including synthetic sexual content, from 10:00 to 16:00 Monday to Friday excluding bank holidays. Its published number is 0345 6000 459.
Frequently asked questions
Can it be sextortion if the image or video is fake?
Yes. Police guidance expressly includes edited, AI-generated and deepfake material.
Is creating a non-consensual sexual deepfake illegal everywhere in the UK under the same law?
No. England and Wales have a creation offence in force from 6 February 2026; Scotland and Northern Ireland have separate legal frameworks and were considering further reforms in 2026.
Should I pay to stop publication?
Police advice is not to pay. There is no guarantee it will stop the threats, and further demands may follow.
Sources checked
- legislation.gov.uk — Data (Use and Access) Act 2025, Section 138
- Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer — Criminalising deepfakes
- GOV.UK — Government crackdown on explicit deepfakes