UNI Police Investigating Sextortion Scam Cases

Incidents of 'sextortion' targeting college students have been reported on the UNI campus.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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The University of Northern Iowa's Department of Public Safety has issued a safety bulletin to the campus community regarding recent cases of 'sextortion' scams. According to the bulletin, there have been two reported incidents of sextortion on campus, with victims identifying dating apps, social media, and messaging platforms as the means of communication used by the scammers. UNI Police are currently investigating the cases, which can be challenging as the perpetrators often use fake identities and conceal their locations.

Why it matters

Sextortion scams have been increasing nationally in recent years, particularly targeting high school and college-aged individuals. These types of crimes can have serious emotional and psychological impacts on victims, and raise concerns about online safety and the need for greater awareness and education around these issues on college campuses.

The details

In the sextortion scams, unknown individuals often use fake profiles to connect with students on dating apps or social media. They then build a false sense of trust and engage in online relationships, before demanding money or more explicit content and threatening to release the existing content publicly if the victim refuses. UNI Public Safety has advised students to be cautious when meeting people online, never share explicit photos or videos, report any threats, and adjust social media privacy settings.

  • On March 3, 2026, UNI's Department of Public Safety sent a safety bulletin to the campus community regarding the sextortion scam cases.
  • Over the last few weeks prior to March 3, 2026, incidents of 'sextortion' have been reported to UNI Police and other campus offices.

The players

UNI Department of Public Safety

The campus police department at the University of Northern Iowa that issued the safety bulletin and is investigating the sextortion scam cases.

Joe Tyler

The associate director of public safety at the University of Northern Iowa, who provided details about the reported sextortion incidents on campus.

Brenda White

The investigator and prevention specialist for the Office of Civil Rights Compliance at the University of Northern Iowa, who discussed the Green Dot bystander intervention program that helps students prevent sexual violence and access campus resources.

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What they’re saying

“These types of cases have been increasing nationally over the last few years, and the schemes often target high school and college-aged victims.”

— Joe Tyler, Associate Director of Public Safety (northerniowan.com)

“Through interactive training, students learn how to recognize potentially harmful situations and safely intervene using simple strategies such as direct action, distraction, or seeking help from others.”

— Brenda White, Investigator and Prevention Specialist, Office of Civil Rights Compliance (northerniowan.com)

What’s next

The UNI Police Department is continuing to investigate the sextortion scam cases, and the university is offering free bystander intervention workshops through the Green Dot program to help students recognize and prevent sexual violence and harassment on campus.

The takeaway

The rise in sextortion scams targeting college students highlights the need for greater awareness, education, and support services on campuses to help students navigate online safety and protect themselves from these types of predatory crimes.