Hackers extorted NFL and NBA players using nude photos in social media scheme

On Thursday, federal authorities announced that two men are accused of hacking social media accounts and emails of athletes in the National Basketball Association and National Football League — often extorting them and ransoming their log-in credentials for profit.

Ronnie Magrehbi and Trevontae Washington are charged “in separate criminal complaints with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit computer fraud and abuse,” the Department of Justice release said.

According to officials, both men gained access to social media accounts from athletes in the two sports leagues, along with other online accounts including emails between December 2017 and April 2019.

The criminal complaint against Magrehbi says one phishing attempt resulted in explicit photos of an NFL player being posted to his Instagram and Twitter account on June 4, 2018.

While the documents only identify the athlete as “Victim-1,” the timeline syncs up with when NFL defensive end Avery Moss’ Twitter account was hacked and explicit videos and pictures of the player were posted — and then deleted — after NFL security got involved in June 2018, ESPN reported.