Sexting & Sextortion Scams

I got a text message once that said if i didn't send money to xx account then all the inapproriate images on my phone would be sent to all my friends and family. Since i knew i didn't have any i just told them go ahead and i just blocked the number, But if i was one to have that kind of stuff on my phone, it would have put me in a pretty bad position, would i have believed them that they really had access?

I do know that when i sell stuff on Facebook Marketplace, i will get messages if they can contact me by text message. the first time i was asked i didn't think anything about it, then they were like, i sent a 6 digit code to you that i need to verify you are a real person ( i didn't do it, i just blocked them). After, i realize how easy it is for someone to gain access to others phones and potentially get hacked and or blackmailed.