The FBI is warning the public to guard against a growing scam involving ransom and virtual kidnapping.

The FBI stated that criminals are altering photos found on social media or other publicly available sites to use as fake proof-of-life photos in virtual kidnapping for ransom scams. These criminal actors pose as kidnappers and provide seemingly real photos or videos of victims, along with demands for ransom payments.

These criminals typically will contact their victims through text message, claiming they have kidnapped their loved one, and demand a ransom be paid for their release.

These actors frequently have expressed significant claims of violence toward the loved one if the ransom isn’t paid immediately.

“The criminal actor will then send what appears to be a genuine photo or vide

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