Overview
- A partnership announced Monday between the NCAA and the FBI establishes an education-and-support program to prevent and respond to online sexual exploitation of college athletes.
- The initiative focuses on teaching campuses how attackers operate, including phishing, password and PIN theft, and fake social-media support requests that lead to account compromise and image theft.
- Under the plan the NCAA will serve as an on-campus liaison to connect affected athletes with FBI field office victim advocates and external removal resources such as NCVIC tools.
- The FBI has issued clear guidance for victims to cease contact with extortionists, preserve evidence, refuse payment, and report incidents to campus safety or law enforcement immediately.
- The move follows high-profile cases of mass image theft, including the Matt Weiss prosecution, and responds to a rise in financial sextortion that has disproportionately affected minors and increased harm to victims.