Security Speaker: Predator invites highschool wrestlers to compete in underground fight club

7 Mar 2014 · 2 min

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In a local news segment, reporters Jackie and Justin Michaels relay a safety advisory issued by the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) warning parents, coaches, and school officials about a Facebook user, "Manny Whelan," who allegedly offered cash to high‑school athletes to compete in an underground wrestling club held at local hotels. The advisory, distributed to principals and athletic directors, emphasizes the seriousness of the threat and the uncertainty about which sport is involved. Personal security expert Robert Siciliano labels the scheme as that of a sexual predator, suggesting the possibility of sexual exploitation in exchange for money. The Facebook page was active for two years before being taken down, and no arrests have been reported. The segment concludes with a call for vigilance online and advises families to be cautious.

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Thank you, Joe. Right now, a warning for certain high school athletes in Massachusetts about a strange invitation. The email offers cash to fight at a local hotel. Our Justin Michaels is live in Franklin with the details. Justin.
Good morning to you, Jackie. The Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association has a very stern warning out right now— for all parents, school administrators, teachers, coaches to make sure their students and children know to be very careful online. It's a very serious warning affecting all student athletes across the Bay State.
For them to send it out to all the principals and athletic directors as a, uh, safety advisory, it is something that they're taking very seriously.
A warning on the website for the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association says in part, in an effort to ensure the safety of our students, We wanted to pass along some critical information regarding a person trying to contact local athletes on Facebook. The person goes by Manny Whelan on Facebook, and he is offering local student athletes money to compete in an underground wrestling club that is held in local hotels.
As the MIA asked us to do was to send it out to everyone because they were not sure if this was solely a wrestling issue or what sport that this actually entailed.
Parents need to be aware that predators are out there and they have a presence online.
Robert Siciliano is a personal security expert. He says anyone who would create a Facebook page to entice and lure high school male athletes is the definition of a sexual predator.
There is a very good chance that, uh, this is a predator, uh, who, uh, may eventually be paying, uh, these young men, uh, for, uh, sexual favors.
Now the Facebook page has been since taken down, though it was active for 2 years. No word from the MIA the DA on how many or if any students were actually solicited by this. But again, Jackie, good news, that Facebook page is gone. The best thing you can learn from this, be careful online. Very good advice. Justin Michaels live for us.
Thank you.