Hampshire police warning after hackers take over 15-year-old girl's Snapchat and tell her friends to self-harm

Hampshire Constabulary's Cyber Crime Team are investigating after a 15-year-old Southampton girl found her account had been taken over by hackers.

After sending the messages advocating self-harm to her friends and family, the hackers demanded money from the victim so she can regain control of the account.

The girl did ‘the right thing’ by refusing to pay anything and by contacting all her friends to let them know individually to ignore the messages from her Snapchat, according to Detective Inspector Paul Masters.

Police are warning hackers are perpetrating this type of attack across Hampshire.

Det Insp Masters said: ‘This is just one of a series of reports of this same type of fraud being committed throughout Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

‘But we need to alert the general public - in particular young people and their parents - to be on their guard and to follow some simple advice.’

The police force is advising people to be wary of unusual messages on any social media accounts, as well as WhatsApp and email accounts, even if the messages are from someone you know.

A response should not be given to a request for money, and where possible the contact should be called or spoken to in person about any unusual messages or requests.

Hacked accounts can be reported to Action Fraud by visiting actionfraud.police.uk, and the police should be called on 999 if anyone is in immediate danger.

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