"Federal prosecutors in Boston have charged an Illinois man with phishing Snapchat access codes from nearly 600 women in an attempt to steal nude photos he allegedly kept, sold, or traded a scheme that investigators say included working with a Northeastern track coach convicted of accessing female athletes' social media accounts. Massachusetts U.S. Attorney Leah Foley announced on Tuesday that prosecutors are charging Kyle Svara, 26, with aggravated identity theft, wire fraud, computer fraud."
"According to the charging documents, from May 2020 to February 2021, Svara allegedly used social engineering to collect victim emails, phone numbers, and Snapchat usernames. He would then allegedly use those means of identification to access victims' Snapchat accounts, prompting the company to send account security codes to victims. Using anonymized phone numbers, Svara allegedly posed as a representative of Snap Inc. and texted more than 4,500 victims requesting those Snapchat access codes."
Kyle Svara, 26, faces federal charges including aggravated identity theft, wire fraud, computer fraud, conspiracy to commit computer fraud, and false statements related to child pornography. From May 2020 to February 2021, Svara allegedly used social engineering to collect victim emails, phone numbers, and Snapchat usernames and then prompted account security codes by posing as Snap Inc. representatives. He allegedly texted more than 4,500 people and received codes from about 570 women, accessed at least 59 accounts, and downloaded nude or semi-nude images that he sold or traded online. One co-conspirator was former Northeastern coach Steve Waithe, who hired Svara and previously received a five-year sentence for related schemes. Svara is scheduled to appear in federal court in Boston on Feb. 4.
Read at www.boston.com
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