FBI warns of new virtual kidnapping scam

marketing14560
55 minutes ago
2 min read

Happy Friday The FBI just issued a Public Service Announcement warning about a new scam and this one is despicable. Criminals are stealing pictures of missing persons off of social media, altering them and using them as fake proof-of-life photos to make ransom demands.

How the scam works

You might get a text message or email from the criminal claiming that they've kidnapped a loved one and will hurt them unless a ransom is paid immediately. The scammer will then send "proof" with "genuine" photos or videos of the loved one being injured or in danger - all likely done with the help of AI.

The Takeaway

The FBI points out that close inspection of these "genuine" photos and videos often reveals inaccuracies when compared to confirmed photos of the loved one. For example missing tattoos, scars and inaccurate body proportions. The scammers are smart. They'll usually send pictures using timed message features to limit the amount of time you'll have to analyze them for authenticity.

The FBI suggests the following to protect yourself from these sort of scams:

Just know that if you post missing person information online, scammers will probably be contacting you.
When traveling, avoid giving personal information to strangers.
Have a secret code word with your loved ones. That way you can easily spot the fakes.
Scammers love getting you to panic by creating a false sense of urgency. Stop for a second and ask yourself, "does what they are telling me to do make sense?"
Screen shot or record photos, text messages and any and all communication between you and the scammer.
Always try to contact your loved one before paying any demand for ransom.

If you or someone you know has been victim to a virtual kidnapping scam, report the incident to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov. With AI, these virtual kidnappings are getting more realistic than ever. Be a skeptic and you won't be a victim.

Stay safe out there.

-Attila

PS. New episode of the CyberSecured Podcast drops today. Be sure to check it out on whatever Podcast platform you use or at cypac.com/podcast