POSH
Report & Get Help — USA
Act early. Stay calm. Report properly.
Protect the child first, then follow the right reporting path.
Immediate danger
Call 911 immediately
If a child is in immediate danger or at risk of harm, emergency services come first.
Child Safety First:
Protect the child → stop contact → save evidence → report.
Main USA reporting pathways
Use the pathway that matches the situation:
- NCMEC CyberTipline: grooming, exploitation, sexual contact, CSAM, trafficking
- IC3 (FBI): sextortion scams, fraud, or cyber-enabled crime
- Police / 911: immediate danger or real-world risk
If a child is being targeted, groomed, or exploited, NCMEC is the primary reporting path in the USA.
What to do immediately
- Keep the child safe
- Stop further contact if safe
- Tell them they are not in trouble
- Take screenshots
- Save usernames, links, and timestamps
- Write down what happened
- Do not delete anything before saving evidence
You do not need certainty before reporting — concern is enough.
When to use NCMEC CyberTipline
- Online grooming or sexual communication
- Requests for images or videos
- Child sexual abuse material (CSAM)
- Sexual exploitation or trafficking concerns
- Unwanted sexual content sent to a child
When to use IC3 (FBI)
- Sextortion scams
- Financial coercion or blackmail
- Fraud linked to online contact
- Broader cybercrime involving a child
IC3 supports cybercrime reporting, but child exploitation cases should still go to NCMEC.
When to involve police
- There are threats or blackmail
- Someone may meet the child in person
- You know the person involved
- The situation feels urgent or escalating
If risk is immediate or real-world, contact police alongside other reports.
USA reporting flow
Protect the child
↓
Save evidence
↓
Report (NCMEC / police / IC3)
↓
Report inside platform
↓
Support the child
Help another parent act faster
Many parents hesitate because they don’t know the right step.
Clear guidance can reduce panic and protect a child sooner.
Knowing what to do early can change the outcome