The Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office is advising people about Snapchat scams that have seen an uptick since the beginning of the year.
Livingston Parish Sheriff Jason Ard said the scammers target young males and pose as females using fake photos claiming to want an intimate relationship. The scammer will send explicit photos to the victim and ask for some in return.
Ard said once the victim sends a photo, the scammer will try to extort money from the victim. Scammers typically ask for payment using gift cards, cryptocurrency or transferring money through various apps.
“If the victim doesn’t pay up, the scammers say they will send the photos to their family and friends via social media,” Ard said. “If you or a family member falls victim to this scam, advise them to stop communicating with the suspects and ignore them.”
The LPSO investigation revealed:
- The Snapchat accounts are fake
- The money is being moved overseas
- That money is unrecoverable
Tips to deal with potential scams
- Don’t open emails that claim your Snapchat account is locked & don’t click on links in them if you do
- Don’t look for dates or online romances using Snapchat
- Never send money to anyone you meet via Snapchat
- Check with friends to make sure they weren’t hacked if you start to receive any messages from their accounts asking for sensitive information
- Block any accounts that seem off or ask you for personal info
How to report abuse on Snapchat
Snapchat Support (https://help.snapchat.com/…/7012399221652-How-to-Report…)
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