Cybercriminals are increasingly targeting individuals' social media and online accounts to illicitly obtain sexually explicit images or videos, according to a recent public service announcement from the **FBI**. The stolen content is then leveraged for blackmail, sold on criminal marketplaces, or used to pressure victims into providing more explicit material through sextortion. ### The Mechanics of Sextortion Sextortion involves online blackmail where threat actors steal or coerce victims into providing nude images and videos. They then threaten to publicly leak this content unless a payment is made or further explicit material is provided. The **FBI** highlights that once this content is stolen, it's often posted or sold on criminal marketplaces, frequently bundled with the victim's personal information. This can lead to a cycle of re-victimization, including harassment, stalking, and further targeted attacks, such as advertising the stolen content directly on a victim's social media page. ### Student-Athletes Under Threat In a parallel warning, the **FBI** and the **National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)** have specifically alerted student-athletes to these sexual exploitation schemes. They urge coaches, compliance staff, and athletic department leadership to educate their communities on the risks. Key advice for potential victims includes: * Do not respond to unsolicited text messages or emails requesting verification codes or password reset links. * Avoid storing explicit photos or videos on social media accounts or other internet-accessible sites. * Utilize strong, complex passwords. * Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) wherever possible. The **FBI** emphasizes that legitimate platforms will never request verification codes, temporary passwords, or PIN reset codes from account holders. They also advise against using easily accessible personal information in passwords or PINs. ### A Growing Concern While the immediate trigger for this latest alert was not specified, the **FBI** often issues such public service announcements in response to an observed increase in specific types of incidents. This echoes a similar warning from September 2021, when the bureau reported a significant surge in sextortion complaints, which had cost victims over $8 million that year. Individuals who receive sextortion threats are strongly advised to cease all interaction with the criminals immediately and contact law enforcement as soon as possible. Sextortionists face severe legal penalties, with some perpetrators receiving decades-long prison sentences for their crimes.