Overview
- In a December 5 alert, the FBI said criminals are fabricating proof-of-life by altering publicly available photos and videos to pressure families into paying ransoms.
- Fraudsters typically text targets claiming a loved one has been abducted, issue threats to force immediate payment, and share manipulated media that can be hard to scrutinize.
- The bureau notes many cases involve no actual abduction and warns scammers may time-limit messages or exploit images shared in missing-person posts.
- Investigators say fake proof-of-life often shows telltale inaccuracies when compared with confirmed photos, and reporters have documented incidents that also used spoofed phone numbers.
- The FBI advises setting a family code word, avoiding sharing personal details with strangers while traveling, attempting to contact the purported victim, preserving screenshots or recordings, and reporting to IC3.