A Snapchat Scam Is Threatening To Leak Users’ Nudes And Wipe Their Pics
25 April 2018, 15:25
Three separate hoaxes have been circulating since Tuesday
Snapchat is warning users that they may receive a fake message telling them that their saved pictures, or “memories”, will be deleted unless they send the message to everyone in their contacts. The hoaxes seemed to start flooding in around Tuesday, and it was followed by two additional ones.
Another claimed that all “nude/pornographic photos” would be shared on Snapchat’s official Twitter account – while this is less believable, it’s also more terrifying; tapping into users’ likely already existent fears that their Snapchat nudes could be leaked.
The third states that users will soon have to pay a fee to use the app, and all of them appear to come from the Team Snapchat account (yes, the one that makes you think you have friends every so often but is really just sending you a St Patrick’s Day animation).
Obviously, users of Snapchat started freaking out.
this is the message i keep receiving pic.twitter.com/PPadSAEZWK
— sam (@sam_rsanchez) April 25, 2018
Know my friend just sent it to me freaking out pic.twitter.com/JfMSVdKYXF
— Ice Coyote Brave Tail (@chocolatebunz8) April 24, 2018
Y’all if snapchat deletes my memories imma be pissed
— Alondra🍓 (@Alondraaa00_) April 25, 2018
What about this one I tried looking through the comments to see anything about it && couldn’t find anything & im lowkey rlly worried... so is it true? pic.twitter.com/GY7kf1MBDq
— Alexis Metcalf (@lexxmetcalf) April 25, 2018
Don't panic!
Addressing the memories hoax specifically, Snapchat tweeted: “We're aware of a Screenshot going around with a rumour about your Memories" – don't worry! This is #fake news”, but haven’t yet addressed the other two.
If you get any of these messages or anything similar, obviously, don’t send them on – but do report them to Snapchat.
We're aware of a screenshot going around with a rumor about your Memories - don't worry! This is #fakenews 🙅
— Snapchat Support (@snapchatsupport) April 24, 2018
Phew!