Russia Warns of AI-Enhanced Blackmail Scam on Social Media

Authorities advise users to restrict access to personal photos as scammers use neural networks to generate fake, compromising images.

Russian authorities have issued a warning about a new social media scam. According to Artyom Sheykin, deputy chairman of the Council for the Development of the Digital Economy under the Federation Council, there has been a surge in cases where publicly available photos are manipulated by neural networks to produce fake, compromising images.

The scam works by blackmailing victims—threatening to share the doctored images online or send them to friends and family unless a ransom is paid.

Officials urge users to set their photo albums to private. If threats are received, they strongly recommend against paying, as this often leads to further extortion. Instead, users should take screenshots of messages for police records, since scammers often delete conversations quickly. Restricting public access to social profiles and warning close contacts about potential deepfake messages is also advised.

As technology evolves, so do scams. Basic digital hygiene remains key: avoid suspicious links, don’t share personal data or SMS codes, don’t open files from unknown senders, and enable two-factor authentication on social media and banking apps.