FBI AND NCAA WARN STUDENT-ATHLETES ABOUT CYBER-ENABLED SEXUAL EXPLOITATION SCHEMES

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, working with the National Collegiate Athletic Association, has launched a joint awareness initiative focused on cyber-enabled sexual exploitation schemes targeting student-athletes.

The FBI said student-athletes are frequently targeted because of their public profiles, school visibility, and expanded exposure through Name, Image and Likeness activity. That visibility can give offenders more information to exploit and more leverage when threatening to expose private images or other sensitive material.

The initiative is designed to help student-athletes recognize common tactics before an incident occurs and to ensure they know where to report exploitation if they become targets.

The FBI and NCAA are also asking coaches, compliance personnel, and athletic department leaders to distribute the information and make reporting resources available in advance. Federal authorities said these individuals may be among the first trusted adults a student-athlete approaches after an incident.

FBI Operation Director Jose Perez said the effort is intended to make sure student-athletes and other potential victims understand that assistance is available and that they have access to reporting tools before and after an incident.

NCAA Vice President for Enforcement Jon Duncan said the organization wants to reduce barriers that may prevent college athletes from seeking assistance and help connect victims with law enforcement and support resources.

The FBI identified several warning signs associated with these schemes.

One tactic involves unsolicited text messages claiming that an account will be disabled unless the recipient provides a verification code. Another involves unsolicited emails claiming that a new login has occurred and directing the recipient to click an embedded password-reset link.

The FBI warned that legitimate online platforms and service providers will not ask users to surrender verification codes, temporary passwords, or PIN reset codes.

Student-athletes and other users should also avoid passwords and PINs built from easily obtainable personal information, including names and dates of birth, because information associated with public-facing profiles may already be available to offenders.

These schemes can become particularly dangerous when an attacker gains control of an account containing private photographs, videos, messages, or other sensitive information. Once access is obtained, offenders may threaten disclosure in an attempt to obtain payment or other concessions from the victim.

The FBI advises anyone targeted by this type of exploitation not to click suspicious links or open unknown documents, to stop communicating with the offender, and to refuse demands for payment or proof of identity.

Victims should preserve relevant messages, images, account information, and other evidence and report the incident as quickly as possible.

The FBI said continued communication with an offender, or complying with payment demands, does not reliably prevent further distribution of private content and can lead to additional demands.

The warning is especially relevant for student-athletes whose public exposure may extend beyond traditional school athletics.

Name, Image and Likeness activity can expand the public profiles of student-athletes, increasing their exposure to targeting and the leverage offenders may believe they hold when threatening exposure.

Individuals who believe they have been victimized through the distribution or threatened distribution of non-consensual intimate images can report the incident through the FBI’s dedicated reporting resources. Reports can also be submitted through the FBI tip system or by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI.

The central warning is straightforward: public visibility can make student-athletes attractive targets, and account-security scams can quickly escalate into sexual exploitation or extortion once an offender gains access to private material.

The FBI and NCAA are urging athletic programs to treat prevention, account security, evidence preservation, and rapid reporting as part of protecting student-athletes in an environment where personal branding and athletic visibility extend into their online lives.

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