LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – As technology advances, criminals are finding new ways to exploit people through social media. The Lubbock Police Department warns these threats are happening here on the South Plains.<\/p>\n
Detective Olivia Boggs with LPD\u2019s Special Victims Unit said artificial intelligence and social media are actively being used to target people\u2019s image and likeness to create deepfakes.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor example, they would take your face and then they alter it to either be somebody who is without clothing who could have their intimate parts exposed,\u201d Boggs said.<\/p>\n
Boggs said anything posted online can be used by cyber criminals, so people need to know who has access to their social media accounts.<\/p>\n
\u201cKeep your accounts secured: if you have a Facebook account, don\u2019t have it public; if you have a Snapchat, don\u2019t have your locations set where people can see where you\u2019re at,\u201d she said. \u201cDon\u2019t post a lot of personal information that\u2019s public unless you physically know those people, and you\u2019re okay with them knowing, you know, about your life.\u201d<\/p>\n
Law enforcement is trying to get this message to the younger generation.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith how technology is growing, you know, just know that there\u2019s so many platforms, there\u2019s so many cloud accounts, there\u2019s so many ways to store that information,\u201d Boggs said. \u201cSo, even if you think that it\u2019s gone, it could still be there.\u201d<\/p>\n
Police are hoping to shift people\u2019s focus from the number of likes and followers an account has to how safe users are online.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are people out there who don\u2019t worry about their likes,\u201d Boggs said. \u201cThey are just out there to see who they could either attempt to defraud, gather money from, get pictures, or they have other reasons why they want to communicate.\u201d<\/p>\n
LPD is urging for anyone who has fallen victim to crimes like this to report it, even if it seems scary or embarrassing.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt needs to be reported because if it\u2019s happening to them, it\u2019s probably happening with other people,\u201d she said. \u201cSo, don\u2019t be embarrassed, just understand that, it is a case we want to investigate.\u201d<\/p>\n