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FBI has issued a warning to Americans that online criminals are increasingly stealing photos and videos social media To use as fake “life proof” images in virtual kidnapping Scams,
Agency, led by Kash PatelRecommends the public agree on a code word with family members or friends to use for authentication when receiving suspicious messages.
according to public service announcement According to a release by the Bureau this month, bad actors are posing as criminals and sending text messages and emails to targets falsely claiming to hold a loved one hostage and demanding ransom in exchange for their release, using stolen media stolen from sites such as: Instagram To make their story more credible.
“Criminal actors will typically contact their victims via text message and claim to have kidnapped their loved one and demand ransom for their release,” the agency said in its warning.
“Often, if the ransom is not paid immediately, the criminal actor will express significant claims of violence towards the loved one. The criminal actor will then send an actual photo or video of the victim’s loved one, which upon closer inspection often reveals inaccuracies compared to confirmed photos of the loved one.
“Examples of these inaccuracies include missing tattoos or scars and incorrect body proportions. Criminal actors will sometimes intentionally send these photos using timed messaging features to limit the amount of time victims have to analyze the images.”
In addition to using code words, the FBI advises people to be wary of scammers when posting information about real people online, especially online missing person Cases that may attract a bad-faith approach.
The bureau also advises the public to keep an eye out for messages that promote a “false sense of urgency”, which could be a clear sign of a scam, and try to contact loved ones mentioned in any such approaches before paying for their release.
You should also take screenshots of any suspicious texts or emails and avoid sharing personal information with strangers while traveling.
The agency says anyone who believes they are being targeted by a virtual kidnapping scam should immediately report it to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center through its websiteProviding as much information as possible, including phone numbers, email addresses, payment information, and any audio or text communications received.
Online crime is becoming an increasingly important area for the FBI, the bureau announced earlier this month Five people were arrested who were part of “Greggie’s Cult”. A Blackmail Accused of using gang Extortion Threats to intimidate young gamers into performing humiliating and sexually explicit acts on webcams.