The Federal Bureau of Investigation is warning the public of a disturbing scam trend involving criminals altering photos found on social media or other public sites, and using them as fake “proof of life” images in virtual kidnapping for ransom schemes.
In these scams, criminals contact the victim’s family members and pose as kidnappers, sending altered photos or videos that appear real, followed by urgent and threatening demands for payment.
In the FBI public service announcement they explain that criminal actors typically will contact their victims through text message claiming they have kidnapped their loved one and demand a ransom be paid for their release. Oftentimes, the criminal actor will express significant claims of violence towards the loved one if the ransom is not paid immediately. The criminal actor will then send what appears to be a genuine photo or video of the victim’s loved one, which upon close inspection often reveals inaccuracies when compared to confirmed photos of the loved one. Examples of these inaccuracies include missing tattoos or scars and inaccurate body proportions. Criminal actors will sometimes purposefully send these photos using timed message features to limit the amount of time victims have to analyze the images.
Tips to protect yourself
FBI suggests people limit what they share publicly online. Verify the safety of your loved one directly whenever possible. Do not send money or provide personal information under pressure.
The FBI urges anyone believing they have been a victim of a virtual kidnapping scam to report the incident to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov. Be sure to submit as much information as possible about the interaction including phone numbers, payment information, text and audio communications, and proof of life photos.
Read the full announcement from the FBI here.