FBI: New kidnapping scam employs AI-altered images to pressure victims into paying criminals0%
By OAN Staff0% Cory Hawkins0%
12/5/2025, 4:26:09 PM
BS Summary: This article contains 9 faulty reasoning types, including Availability Heuristic, Appeal to Authority, and Loss Aversion, with Negativity Bias as the most egregious example at 48.9% saturation with 150 hits. Analysis detected 615 faulty-reasoning hits from 307 analyzed words, generating a BS Score of 0% and a BS Rank of 0% (0 of 21,198 articles). This article is better (less manipulative) than 100.00% of the article peer group.
The seal of the F.B.I. hangs in the Flag Room at the bureau's headquarters Washington, DC. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
The FBI issued a public service announcement (PSA) warning about a new variation of "virtual kidnapping" scams where criminals use artificial intelligence (AI) to alter publicly available photos, often from social media, as fake "proof-of-life" evidence to extort ransoms from victims.
In these schemes, scammers contact victims via text, claim to have abducted a loved one, demand immediate payment, often in cryptocurrency or gift cards, and send manipulated images or videos showing the supposed hostage in distress — sometimes with features like "timed messaging."
The public service announcement, announced on Friday, details how tech-savvy criminals are contacting victims through text to later demand ransom payments.
"Criminal actors typically will contact their victims through text message claiming they have kidnapped their loved one and demand a ransom be paid for their release," the FBI states on Friday.
"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 recommends taking protective measures to defend against these scams, such as creating a code word to verify communication with friends and family, in addition to avoiding posting personal information online.
The bureau has also warned Americans to remain vigilant when posting online about people who are missing, as scammers can reach out with false information.
"When posting missing person information online, be mindful that scammers may contact you with fake information regarding your loved one."
The number of complaints regarding these virtual kidnapping scams were absent from the public service announcement.
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