Feb 10 • 16:45 UTC 🇫🇮 Finland Ilta-Sanomat

Horrific scam: Pregnant women sent pictures of their breasts to a fraudster

A fraudulent individual posing as a researcher lured pregnant women in a Facebook group into sending images of their breasts in exchange for a gift card.

A new and disturbing scam has emerged in a Swedish Facebook group designed for pregnant women, where a person under the aliases "Molly" and "My" deceived members into sending breast and belly pictures. This individual promoted a fake study on body changes during pregnancy, promising a 1500 kronor (approximately 141 euros) gift card to a baby supply store as a reward for participation. Reports suggest that around 30 women were approached, with some complying and sending the requested images, leading to at least two of them filing police reports.

The situation is particularly egregious because the scammer infiltrated a closed and genuine Facebook group that aims to assist and support pregnant women, thus exploiting the trust and vulnerability of its members. Emilia, a 22-year-old administrator of the group, recounted her experience, noting how expertly the scam was executed, and admitted that she almost fell into the trap herself. This highlights a worrying trend where safety mechanisms within social media groups may fail, allowing malicious actors to access vulnerable communities.

Moreover, this case underscores the increasing challenges posed by new technologies, such as artificial intelligence, which have made it easier for individuals to chase and exploit personal images without consent. The implications of this incident extend beyond personal distress, raising questions about the adequacy of oversight in online communities and the need for more robust protective measures to ensure the safety of individuals sharing sensitive information, especially in support groups for high-risk populations like pregnant women.

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