{
  "id": "2026-08-29-university-of-tennessee-at-chattanooga-online-sexual-exploitation",
  "slug": "university-of-tennessee-at-chattanooga-online-sexual-exploitation-2026-08-29",
  "institution": {
    "name": "University of Tennessee at Chattanooga",
    "shortName": "UTC",
    "state": "TN",
    "type": "public-r2",
    "alertSystemName": "UTC-Alert",
    "enrollment": 11400
  },
  "incident": {
    "date": "2026-08-29",
    "type": "sexual-offense",
    "cleryCategory": "advisory",
    "resolution": "under-investigation",
    "headline": "Student reports an online sexual exploitation",
    "headlinePublic": "Student reports an online sexual exploitation",
    "summary": "A student [reported](https://www.utc.edu/finance-and-administration/department-of-public-safety/alerts-status) that someone they met online threatened to release intimate videos.",
    "outcome": "The report was under investigation. The message gave caution about meeting people online."
  },
  "alerts": [
    {
      "sequence": 1,
      "type": "initial",
      "timestamp": "2026-08-29T16:30:00-04:00",
      "channel": "website",
      "verbatimText": "UTC Community:\n\nOn Saturday, August 29, 2026, at approximately 9:00 AM, the UTC Police Department received a report of a possible Sexual Exploitation incident. The victim, a UTC student, reported sharing intimate videos online with an individual they believed to be anonymous. That individual then threatened to release the videos unless the student paid them.\n\nThis incident is actively under investigation by the UTC Police Department.\n\nIf you have experienced a similar incident and would like to report it, please contact the UTC Police Department at (423) 425-HELP/4357.\n\nSafety Tips:\n\nOnline Sexual Exploitation:\n\nExercise caution when meeting people online. Perpetrators often use fake profiles and pressure you to share personal or intimate information.\n\nThink before you share. Be cautious about sending intimate images or videos to someone you have only met online or do not know and trust in real life.\n\nRemain vigilant with video calls. Video calls can potentially be recorded without your knowledge or consent.\n\nTrust your instincts. If something feels off, end communication immediately.\n\nDo not give in to threats or demands. Giving in to demands often leads to more threats. Save and document any messages, usernames, website URLs, screenshots, and other information that may help with reporting.\n\nIf someone sends you another person's private or intimate content, do not save, forward, or repost it.\n\nYou don't have to handle online sexual exploitation alone. Report the incident to the appropriate law enforcement and seek support from University and community resources.\n\nReporting:\n\nConfidential:\n\nConfidential support is available, regardless of whether a person wishes to file a formal complaint with the University or report to law enforcement.\n\nLaw Enforcement:\n\nOn-Campus: Report incidents to UTCPD by calling (423) 425-HELP/4357 or visiting the UTC Police Department at the Administrative Services Building (400 Palmetto Street).\n\nOff-Campus: Report incidents to the local law enforcement agency with jurisdiction. If you are unsure which agency has jurisdiction, UTCPD can assist you.\n\nUTC:\n\nReport incidents to the Office of Title IX Compliance for support by submitting a report at utc.edu/report, calling (423) 425-4255, or emailing [email protected].\n\nResources:\n\nUTC\n\nUTCares: (423) 425-CARE/2273.\n\nCounseling Center: (423) 425-4438.\n\nOffice of the Dean of Students: (423) 425-4761\n\nOffice of Student Outreach & Support: (423) 425-2299.\n\nOffice of Title IX Compliance / Title IX Coordinator: (423) 425-4255.\n\nChattanooga / Hamilton County\n\nChattanooga Police Department - Victim Services: (423) 643-5351.\n\nDistrict Attorney’s Office for the 11th Judicial District - Victim/Witness Coordinator: (423) 209-7400.\n\nPartnership for Families, Children, and Adults - Rape Crisis Center: (423) 755-2700.\n\nMessage issued on 8/29/2026 at 4:30 PM",
      "isVerbatimConfirmed": true,
      "confidence": "high",
      "sourceUrl": "https://www.utc.edu/finance-and-administration/department-of-public-safety/alerts-status",
      "sourceDescription": "UTC-ALERT status archive",
      "annotations": [
        "Dual fetch of the alerts-status page on 2026-10-12. After scripts and Cloudflare email hashes are removed, both copies of this message match.",
        "The issued line gives the minute. Seconds are not in that line.",
        "2867 characters. sha256 9e849295f4fb8261f8097f96d85298a7f594bc28abeb96e6e9dd6fa945eee71b.",
        "SPN not attempted at 10:15Z"
      ],
      "characterCount": 2867
    }
  ],
  "context": "One public-safety advisory on the UTC-ALERT status archive.",
  "keyFindings": [
    "The exploitation was described as online.",
    "The police-station address is where to report, not the scene."
  ],
  "sources": [
    {
      "title": "UTC-ALERT status archive",
      "url": "https://www.utc.edu/finance-and-administration/department-of-public-safety/alerts-status",
      "type": "official-archive",
      "accessDate": "2026-10-12",
      "archiveUrl": null,
      "archiveNotes": "SPN not attempted at 10:15Z"
    }
  ],
  "confidence": "high",
  "tags": [
    "public-r2",
    "tennessee",
    "sexual-offense"
  ],
  "dateAdded": "2026-10-12",
  "lastUpdated": "2026-10-12",
  "addedBy": "ingestion"
}