Federal prosecutors have charged Kyle Svara, a resident of the Northern District of Illinois, with a sweeping array of federal crimes arising from an alleged multi-state conspiracy to hack into and exploit Snapchat accounts of hundreds of individuals, primarily women, and to trade or sell intimate photos taken from those accounts. The criminal information was filed on December 31, 2025, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts and includes five counts totaling identity theft, wire fraud, computer fraud, conspiracy, and false statements.

The Alleged Scheme

Prosecutors say that between May 2020 and February 2021, Svara conducted an elaborate social engineering campaign to trick Snapchat users into revealing their private account access information. According to the information, he used anonymized phone services—particularly the VOIP app TextNow—to pose as a representative of Snapchat support.

Using this sham identity, Svara allegedly sent thousands of text messages to targeted users, falsely telling them there was an issue with their account and requesting verification codes that Snapchat sends for login. When victims provided these codes, Svara used them to break into their Snapchat accounts without authorization. Once inside, he changed passwords and activated security settings that locked out the real owners. Prosecutors say he then downloaded photos and videos, including nude or intimate images saved in private folders.

Scope of Impact

The list of alleged victims is extensive—spanning hundreds of individuals. Many were athletes or affiliates of Northeastern University’s women’s track and field and soccer teams. Other victims lived in various states including Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Colorado, North Carolina, Arizona, and Pennsylvania. In total, the alleged scheme successfully harvested Snapchat access from scores of accounts.

How the Scheme Worked

Prosecutors described the fraud as involving several components:

• Harvesting contact information: Gathering emails, phone numbers, and usernames belonging to potential victims.
• Using VOIP services: Registering with TextNow and sending texts from numbers that appeared to belong to legitimate tech support.
• Pretending to be Snapchat support: Messaging victims directly and convincing them to divulge security codes sent by Snapchat.
• Locking out victims: Changing account passwords and activating two-factor authentication to block victims from regaining access.
• Collecting and trafficking intimate content: Downloading and storing private photos and videos—often of an explicit nature—and trading them online or selling them to interested parties.

In one example cited by prosecutors, Svara convinced a female victim in Massachusetts to provide a six-digit login code, accessed her account from Illinois, and changed her password. In another incident, he obtained My Eyes Only passcodes—extra security for especially sensitive content—by coaxing victims into offering personal cues.

Conspiracy and Collaboration

The information also alleges that Svara conspired with at least one other individual—Steve Waithe, previously convicted of related internet and fraud offenses—to obtain and share stolen account content. Prosecutors allege Waithe paid Svara at least $50 in small increments during the conspiracy.

Charges Filed

The federal indictment charges Svara with the following:

1. Aggravated Identity Theft — Using victims’ identifying information in connection with a felony offense.
2. Wire Fraud — Using interstate communications to execute the fraud scheme.
3. Conspiracy to Commit Computer Fraud — Planning and executing unauthorized access to protected computer systems.
4. Computer Fraud — Knowingly accessing protected computers without authorization.
5. False Statements — Making untrue statements to law enforcement during investigation interviews.

Forfeiture Allegations

In addition to criminal counts, prosecutors are seeking forfeiture of assets tied to the alleged crimes. This includes multiple electronic devices such as smartphones, laptops, an iPad, and desktop computers that law enforcement says were used to carry out the hacking and fraud.

Implications and Context

The charges underscore a rising concern in federal courts about the use of social engineering to exploit digital platforms and invade personal privacy. Social media applications like Snapchat rely on trust and encrypted services; when that trust is abused through sophisticated impersonation and phishing tactics, the results can be deeply invasive and long-lasting for victims.

As technology becomes more embedded in daily life, the case highlights how federal prosecutors are prioritizing online privacy crimes and misuse of digital platforms as significant threats warranting serious legal consequences.