Man Charged In Large-scale Snapchat Hacking Investigation

BOSTON, MA — An Illinois man has been charged in Boston federal court for reportedly hacking the Snapchat social media accounts of nearly 600 women in an effort to steal nude photos for the purpose of keeping, selling or trading, according to the United States District Attorney’s Office District of Massachusetts.

Kyle Svara, 26, has officially been charged with aggravated identity theft, wire fraud, computer fraud, conspiracy to commit computer fraud and false statements related to child pornography. According to charging documents, Svara used resources to collect emails, phone numbers and Snapchat usernames of approximately 4,500 women. He then used that information to access victim Snapchat accounts, which prompted the company to send account security codes to victims. Svara then posed as a representative of Snap Inc. himself requesting those security codes from the women. Approximately 570 women responded to the phishing scam, and Svara then gained full access to at least 59 accounts and downloaded nude and semi-nude images. Upon gaining access and obtaining the materials, Svara reportedly then advertised on the internet forum Reddit that he could provide the same service for others.

The charging documents also implicate Steve Waithe, a former Track and Field Coach at Boston's Northeastern University, as someone who paid Svara to hack the Snapchat accounts of women Waithe either coached or had other relationships with. Waithe was convicted in Boston Federal Court of 12 counts of wire fraud, one count of cyberstalking, one count of conspiracy to commit computer fraud, and one count of computer fraud: aiding and abetting. He was sentenced to five years in prison.

According to authorities, Svara also targeted women who resided in or around the area of Plainfield, Illinois or who were students at Colby College in Waterville, Maine.

The charge of wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison followed by three years of supervised release. The charges of computer fraud and conspiracy to commit computer fraud provide for a sentence of up to five years in prison followed by three years of supervised release. The charge of false statements related to a child pornography offense provides for a sentence of up to eight years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. The charge of aggravated identity theft provides for a minimum sentence of two years in prison with one year of supervised release. All charges come with a fine of at least $250,000.

Svara is slated to make his first appearance in court on Wednesday, Feb. 4.