WASHINGTON, D.C. — The FBI is warning the public about a new tactic criminals are using to pressure victims into paying ransom in so-called virtual kidnapping scams: fake “proof-of-life” photos that appear real but are digitally manipulated.

In an alert issued Friday , federal officials said scammers are taking photos from social media and other publicly accessible websites, altering them and sending the images to victims while falsely claiming to have abducted a loved one. The goal, investigators said, is to create panic and force victims into paying quickly before they realize the images are fake.

According to the FBI, criminals typically reach people through text message, claiming they are holding a family member hostage and demanding immediate payment. They often describe violent th

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