FBI and NCAA launch joint effort to protect college athletes from online sextortion

The FBI and the NCAA have announced a new collaborative program designed to shield college athletes from sexual exploitation, a threat that has grown as athletes increasingly use their name, image, and likeness (NIL) to build personal brands.

The initiative, unveiled on Monday, responds to a rise in cases where private images of athletes are stolen and misused online. According to the FBI, malicious actors often employ phishing tactics, target passwords and PINs, or impersonate social media customer service representatives to trick athletes into resetting credentials.

Shohini Sinha, assistant director of the FBI's Victim Services Division, noted that athletes' large social media followings, amplified by NIL activities, not only increase their exposure to targeting but also give perpetrators perceived leverage. "There is a pressure to protect the clean image of their school, team and themselves," she said.

Once hackers obtain images, they may post or sell them, leading to sextortion—a form of harassment where victims are stalked or have stolen content published on their own social media pages.

Neither the FBI nor the NCAA provided specific statistics on the number of athletes affected. Instead, the partnership will focus on educational efforts to help athletes recognize and avoid such threats.

Jon Duncan, NCAA Vice President of Enforcement, emphasized the organization's commitment: "If we can play even a small role in preventing these crimes or getting justice or appropriate support for the people impacted by them, we will do everything we can to help."