SPOKANE, Wash. — Cyber criminals have become extremely sophisticated throughout the years, and with that their techniques and scams have grown.
“It’s so damaging and I feel sad and angry about it,” said Amanda Auld, who is a victim of cyber hackers.
Back in August, shortly after her dad died, her Instagram was hacked and the hackers were out for money.
“They wanted to show people how to buy a Tesla with bitcoin and unfortunately some of my friends feel for it,” Auld said.
But it didn’t stop there. Whoever was behind it was persistent.
“They tried to create a tinder with my email address,” Auld said.
Amanda’s online identity was lost.
“Once they were able to hack into my Facebook,” Auld said, “they began messaging me on WhatsApp, they had my drivers license information, my address, they talked about my son and wanted a ransom.”
The hackers then started using her Facebook page to sell fake Taylor Swift tickets on the marketplace. Auld is unclear if anyone bought them, they were listed for $400.
There was a brief reprieve— though messages on WhatsApp continued to come in.
Amanda has since turned to the FBI, who tells KHQ this is very much becoming the norm in online hacking.
“Cyber criminals are constantly evolving as new technology rolls out. Cyber criminals are on top of it and they are trying everything they can to get into your accounts and steal directly from you or make you pay,” Steve Bernd with the FBI said.
In Auld’s case they’re trying both, and the FBI says they’re working to keep up with folks like this— but based on pings on her accounts—she believes this is part of a larger operation.
“I know it’s a team, it’s a team of people, they are in Seattle, Los Angeles and on the East Coast,” Auld said.
The FBI says that many times cyber criminals are working in groups, and they say it’s hard to prove that with this case specifically—but they underscore these are sophisticated operations.
To protect yourself the FBI says:
Always make updates to your security softwareUse strong passwordsUse multiple different passwords
As for Auld she’s still out of her accounts— and says she’s getting no help from Silicon Valley.
“Facebook, IG, Meta- they don’t have a customer service line when you follow the prompts to regain access to your account, it’s just a hamster wheel,” Auld said.
Auld is not out any money, thankfully – but her concern is that her image is being used to sell things—and wants people to know— if it’s too good to be true, or the math doesn’t add up be skeptical.
“It’s just so violating they just want them found and prosecuted,” Auld said.
