Stamford Police Warn Of 'Disturbing' Scam Trend

STAMFORD, CT — The Stamford Police Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation are warning residents about a "disturbing" virtual kidnapping scam.

The scam involves criminals altering photos found on social media or other public sites and using them as fake "proof of life" images in virtual kidnapping-for-ransom schemes, police posted on social media.

"In these scams, criminals contact victims’ family members and pose as kidnappers, sending altered photos or videos that appear real, followed by urgent and threatening demands for payment," police noted.

The FBI said criminal actors will typically contact victims through text message.

"Oftentimes, the criminal actor will express significant claims of violence towards the loved one if the ransom is not paid immediately. The criminal actor will then send what appears to be a genuine photo or video of the victim’s loved one, which upon close inspection often reveals inaccuracies when compared to confirmed photos of the loved one," the FBI said in a recent alert.

"Examples of these inaccuracies include missing tattoos or scars and inaccurate body proportions. Criminal actors will sometimes purposefully send these photos using timed message features to limit the amount of time victims have to analyze the images."

Residents should limit what they share publicly online, verify the safety of loved ones directly whenever possible, refrain from sending money or personal information under pressure, and report to law enforcement immediately if they're contacted by scammers.

More information from the FBI can be found here.