Criminals are altering images of people obtained from social media or other public sites to create fake “proof of life” photos as part of virtual kidnapping for ransom scams, the FBI said in a public service announcement on Dec. 5.
According to the agency, criminal actors typically get in touch with their targets via text messages, claiming to have kidnapped a person close to them and demanding a ransom. The demands would often be accompanied by threats of violence.
The photo or video will, upon close inspection, reveal inaccuracies, with examples including “missing tattoos or scars and inaccurate body proportions,” the FBI said. The messages will have a sense of urgency—sent out using timed message features so family members do not have sufficient time to analyze the details….