Sudden redirect to private chat with an under-18 framing
A new contact suggests moving to a private app, then claims (or implies) they are a minor. Sometimes a genuine child-safety incident. Often a deliberate sextortion setup.
Why this pattern works
Two very different but equally dangerous things happen under this pattern. (1) A predator is grooming an actual minor and trying to remove platform visibility. (2) A scam operator is fabricating a minor identity to extract a sextortion payment from the target. Both require immediate, identical action: stop, preserve, report to the appropriate child-safety hotline.
Signs you are in this pattern
If two or more of these match what is happening, treat it as the scam.
Verbatim lines we have seen used
If you hear or read these, the script is running.
"I'm not really 18, but please don't tell.
"Don't use the platform, my parents check my computer.
"Move to Snap, it's safer.
What to do right now
Sequential, low-risk actions. Do them in order.
Stop the conversation. Do not respond to escalation attempts.
Take a screenshot of the chat, profile and timestamps.
Report immediately to NCMEC CyberTipline (US/global) or IWF (UK) or your national child-safety hotline.
Report the on-platform account.
Do not pay any "delete fee" - paying never makes this go away.
Platforms involved in current reports
Aggregated from the reports we have processed in this review window.
Has this happened to you?
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