The FBI has issued a warning that criminals are harvesting publicly available photos from social media like Facebook, LinkedIn, and X and then manipulating them to create fake “proof of life” images for virtual kidnapping scams, where they contact victims’ friends or family to demand ransom for a loved one who is actually safe. Scammers may use simple editing or AI tools to alter images and exploit emotional panic by pushing tight deadlines and threats of violence, but close inspection often reveals inconsistencies like missing tattoos or odd proportions. To protect yourself, limit public sharing of personal photos, tighten privacy settings, and if targeted, try to contact the alleged victim directly, use pre-agreed code words, keep records of communications, and report the incident to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center.
