Kyle Svara of Oswego allegedly hacked Snapchat accounts of women in Boston to steal and sell nude photos
Chicago Suburb Man Charged with Hacking Snapchat Accounts
BOSTON, Mass. – A man from the Chicago suburbs faces federal charges for allegedly attempting to hack into the Snapchat accounts of hundreds of women. The goal was to access nude photos to steal and sell online.
Charges Against Kyle Svara
Kyle Svara, 26, from Oswego, is charged with aggravated identity theft, wire fraud, computer fraud, conspiracy to commit computer fraud, and false statements related to child pornography. These charges were announced by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the District of Massachusetts.
Details of the Alleged Hacking
Prosecutors stated that the hacking occurred between May 2020 and February 2021. At that time, Svara was a student at Colby College in Waterville, Maine. He was hired by a former Northeastern University track and field coach to hack the accounts of female student athletes.
Method of Hacking
Svara allegedly used “social engineering” to gain access to the victims’ personal data and accounts. Snapchat Inc. sent security codes to the victims. Svara requested these codes while posing as a Snapchat representative using anonymized phone numbers.
Victims and Accessed Accounts
About 570 victims provided their codes to Svara. He allegedly accessed around 59 accounts without permission. He also reportedly downloaded nude or semi-nude images to sell or trade on internet forums.
Connection to Steve Waithe
Federal prosecutors noted that Steve Waithe, a former track and field coach at Northeastern University, hired Svara to hack the accounts of women he coached and had relationships with. Waithe was convicted in federal court in 2023 of wire fraud, cyberstalking, and other crimes. He was sentenced to five years in prison.
Potential Sentences for Svara
If convicted, Svara could face the following penalties:
| Charge | Potential Sentence |
|---|---|
| Aggravated Identity Theft | Up to 2 years in prison, 1 year supervised release, $250,000 fine |
| Wire Fraud | Up to 20 years in prison, 3 years supervised release, $250,000 fine or twice the gross gain/loss |
| Computer Fraud | Up to 5 years in prison, 3 years supervised release, $250,000 fine |
| False Statements (Child Pornography) | Up to 8 years in prison, 3 years supervised release, $250,000 fine |
