Scammers are using AI to create fake nude photos of individuals and then blackmailing them for money. The victims are threatened with having the images posted on adult websites or sent to their friends and family if they don’t pay.

The average ransom demand is around 40,000 rubles. To create these realistic-looking fake photos, scammers are reportedly using only a few photos found on social media.

Victims are often between 23 and 30 years old. T-Bank advises people not to give in to the blackmailers’ demands, and that they should report any incidents to the police.

Authorities recommend that people who are contacted by scammers should ignore calls, not engage in conversation, and try to appear as an “unsuitable victim.” The Ministry of Internal Affairs suggests responding to scammers in unconventional ways to potentially confuse them.