Media
Social media scam commodifies women's sexuality to swindle followers – CBC.ca
In the middle of a yoga class last March, Alina Leasenco said she noticed her phone was being inundated with notifications.
She hadn’t made any recent posts.
Curious, she unlocked it and found several messages from friends telling her to check Instagram.
Her photos and name had been used to create a second profile, stealing her likeness to advertise faked adult content in the hopes of scoring credit card information from duped subscribers.
Leasenco is one of many targets of the scam that not only appropriates a person’s identity, but commodifies their body as bait to swindle their followers.
She said her first duplicated profile was quickly taken down after being reported, but that she sees other people targeted in the same way.
“It happens all the time, it happens every day, I see somebody saying, ‘Hey, can you please report this account? It’s not me,'” Leasenco said.
One year later, and just days after her interview with CBC News to discuss that original incident, she was targeted again.
“I was like, oh the irony,” said Leasenco over text message. “Like almost right on the same date.”
Instagram’s response
Despite asking her friends and followers to report it, it took Mariah Bouvier nearly four weeks to get Instagram to remove a fake profile that was using her photos and name to advertise adult content.
“I reported it multiple times from my business account because my personal account had been banned from them, obviously,” Bouvier recalled.
“And they actually got back to me saying that they didn’t see a problem with it.”
Bouvier received an automated message from Instagram telling her their review team hadn’t been able to view the report, but that they found the account “likely doesn’t go against our Community Guidelines.”
“The fact that someone is impersonating me when I had no say in it, it’s harmful.” Bouvier said.
“And luckily, I feel like I have a sense of humour where I can laugh it off, but that’s not the case for some people.”
CBC News reached out to Meta (Facebook), the company that owns Instagram, for a response.
“Claiming to be another person on Instagram violates our Community Standards, and we remove fake accounts when we become aware of them,” stated a spokesperson for Meta.
“We know we can do more here, and we’re working hard to stop bad actors before they cause harm, and to keep our community safe.”
The spokesperson also noted that the imposter accounts identified in CBC’s request had been deleted.
The company adds that millions of accounts are blocked each day using artificial intelligence and machine learning to identify suspicious behaviours without assessing the content itself.
They say that automated tools are used to flag bots that may be spreading policy-violating content, including pornographic images.
Scam strategy
The fake profiles of Leasenco and Bouvier both advertised fake links to platforms known for, or specifically advertising, adult content self-uploaded by users.
When clicked, the link on Bouvier’s imposter account takes users to a Wix site instead of the platform presented, PocketStars.
Wix is a website-building platform that allows users to create free domains.
Bouvier reached out to Wix, who she says promptly shut down the landing site.
Leasenco had contacted OnlyFans, believing that the profile with her images was legitimate.
The PocketStars and OnlyFans platforms each allow users to upload their own content. While PocketStars is specifically an adult website, OnlyFans allows a variety of content, including pornography.
“They advised that it’s not really their issue,” said Leasenco.
“It’s not an account that exists, so of course, it’s a scam account, it just looks like OnlyFans.”
Content creators on platforms like OnlyFans often set up separate social media accounts to develop their online brand at a distance from their private life.
Tom Keenan, a professor at the University of Calgary, says the imitation of reality makes the ruse especially effective.
“They try to leverage the fact that you have a relationship.”
Keenan said that potential victims are more likely to open links and emails from people that they think they know, a method used widely in other scams as well.
“We see an awful lot of that where they say, well, we’re your favourite supplier and, you know, you need to send us a wire transfer or something like that,” said Keenan.
“So there’s nothing new about it, but it is hurtful and I’m sure people feel very invaded when their personal photos and information is misappropriated.”
Both Bouvier and Leasenco acknowledge that their profiles are set to public, and realize that leaves their photos vulnerable to theft.
They each work in public-facing careers and use their social media platforms to develop their brands and both chose to prioritize their professional growth over the potential risk of stolen content.
Neither expected to be targeted like this.
“I felt very violated and I felt very angry because, yes, like I said, I put a lot of work into the images that were created by me and other artists, and that was extremely upsetting to me,” Leasenco said.
As an actress and model, Leasenco’s face and likeness are immeasurably valuable to her career.
“I felt like my art was being sexualized when that was not a primary intent for it.”
Bouvier runs her own online business as well as regularly streaming on Twitch with her partner.
She worries about the results people will see if they try to look up her real accounts online.
“People are able to look up my name. This is going to be the second account that pops up and someone might not think so highly or might put me in a different light.”
Commodifying womens’ bodies
As an advocate against sexual violence, Brittany Rudyck says the objectifying portrayals are particularly upsetting.
“Women have this age of post feminism where they want to be sexually liberated and maybe post thirst traps for their friends or followers that are really cute,” said Rudyck.
“And then to see it be co-opted like that by some stranger on the internet is really shocking, and it just kind of speaks to men’s entitlement over the bodies and images of women.”
Bouvier, Leasenco and Rudyck all agree that the profiles they’ve seen solely target women.
Whereas other scams may offer a free laptop as bait to follow a link, this fraud makes the women themselves the commodity.
Bouvier said she doesn’t believe she would have been impersonated if she was male.
“This didn’t happen to my partner, who’s the face of the Twitch (channel), it happened to me,” Bouvier said.
“They can post shirtless photos, they can post whatever they want, and it never happens to them — it happens to women.”
She said it’s already difficult to exist in a male-dominated industry such as Twitch without having images of her body objectified to scam her followers.
Rudyck sais she observes similar situations happen across society.
“The patriarchal structure of our culture suggests that men do have a certain claim or ownership over women’s bodies and sexualities,” Rudyck said.
“It is a societal pattern that we see played out over and over again, whether it’s with the theft of Instagram images, or it’s the way narratives around romance are portrayed in rom coms and that men can stalk and creep on women.”
The imposter accounts even made a point to follow the same connections Leasenco and Bouvier have on Instagram.
That led to uncomfortable conversations with family members.
“My family, that isn’t necessarily in this country and doesn’t speak English, had seen these things and, you know, they didn’t reach out to me, but I had to reach out to them,” Leasenco said.
Leasenco says her grandmother, who lives in Moldova, had created an account on Instagram to keep up with her granddaughter’s career.
“It horrified her, and horrified her more, of course, because, you know, it’s a different culture, too,” recalled Leasenco of the conversation with her grandmother, wherein she was also forced to explain what the OnlyFans platform is.
“She was very upset to hear about that.”
Bouvier says her brother took it in his stride, joking with her to let him know which sites not to visit.
Both Leasenco and Bouvier were forced to explain time and again that the profiles were faked.
Protecting online privacy
Rudyck says that those conversations with family members and friends can be awkward.
But for those who notice a new profile that fits the scam, she says it’s important to start the conversation without judgement in case the profile is legitimate.
“Something like that where the person receiving the message knows that it’s coming from a place of wanting to protect the autonomy and safety of whoever is putting out the content,” said Rudyck.
“So if it is a beloved niece or someone who’s a little bit younger, just making sure that also they know that they can come to you if ever something does happen.”
She notes that this scam exploits not only the women being impersonated, but the sex work industry as a whole.
“It’s also exploitative of the people who are wanting to pay for sex work and engage in that sort of content earnestly and pay the content creators what they are worth.”
Keenan says it is difficult to protect online posts without locking a profile down to private.
“The other thing I guess you could probably do is somehow watermark the photos, so there are technical ways of keeping track of where a photo came from.”
He says protecting digital content could become more essential in time.
“More and more, your face is your password,” said Keenan. “I think in the future we’ll be kind of hiding our faces online for the very reason that somebody might use LinkedIn to get into our bank account.”
In Meta’s response, the spokesperson advised anyone who believes they may have been targeted by an impersonator to report the account and provide a photo of their government-issued ID to prove their identity to Instagram.
Former President Donald Trump is on the brink of a significant financial decision that could have far-reaching implications for both his personal wealth and the future of his fledgling social media company, Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG). As the lockup period on his shares in TMTG, which owns Truth Social, nears its end, Trump could soon be free to sell his substantial stake in the company. However, the potential payday, which makes up a large portion of his net worth, comes with considerable risks for Trump and his supporters.
Trump’s stake in TMTG comprises nearly 59% of the company, amounting to 114,750,000 shares. As of now, this holding is valued at approximately $2.6 billion. These shares are currently under a lockup agreement, a common feature of initial public offerings (IPOs), designed to prevent company insiders from immediately selling their shares and potentially destabilizing the stock. The lockup, which began after TMTG’s merger with a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC), is set to expire on September 25, though it could end earlier if certain conditions are met.
Should Trump decide to sell his shares after the lockup expires, the market could respond in unpredictable ways. The sale of a substantial number of shares by a major stakeholder like Trump could flood the market, potentially driving down the stock price. Daniel Bradley, a finance professor at the University of South Florida, suggests that the market might react negatively to such a large sale, particularly if there aren’t enough buyers to absorb the supply. This could lead to a sharp decline in the stock’s value, impacting both Trump’s personal wealth and the company’s market standing.
Moreover, Trump’s involvement in Truth Social has been a key driver of investor interest. The platform, marketed as a free speech alternative to mainstream social media, has attracted a loyal user base largely due to Trump’s presence. If Trump were to sell his stake, it might signal a lack of confidence in the company, potentially shaking investor confidence and further depressing the stock price.
Trump’s decision is also influenced by his ongoing legal battles, which have already cost him over $100 million in legal fees. Selling his shares could provide a significant financial boost, helping him cover these mounting expenses. However, this move could also have political ramifications, especially as he continues his bid for the Republican nomination in the 2024 presidential race.
Trump Media’s success is closely tied to Trump’s political fortunes. The company’s stock has shown volatility in response to developments in the presidential race, with Trump’s chances of winning having a direct impact on the stock’s value. If Trump sells his stake, it could be interpreted as a lack of confidence in his own political future, potentially undermining both his campaign and the company’s prospects.
Truth Social, the flagship product of TMTG, has faced challenges in generating traffic and advertising revenue, especially compared to established social media giants like X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook. Despite this, the company’s valuation has remained high, fueled by investor speculation on Trump’s political future. If Trump remains in the race and manages to secure the presidency, the value of his shares could increase. Conversely, any missteps on the campaign trail could have the opposite effect, further destabilizing the stock.
As the lockup period comes to an end, Trump faces a critical decision that could shape the future of both his personal finances and Truth Social. Whether he chooses to hold onto his shares or cash out, the outcome will likely have significant consequences for the company, its investors, and Trump’s political aspirations.
Cochise County, AZ — Law enforcement officials in Arizona have apprehended Ronald Lee Syvrud, a 66-year-old resident of Cochise County, after a manhunt was launched following alleged death threats he made against former President Donald Trump. The threats reportedly surfaced in social media posts over the past two weeks, as Trump visited the US-Mexico border in Cochise County on Thursday.
Syvrud, who hails from Benson, Arizona, located about 50 miles southeast of Tucson, was captured by the Cochise County Sheriff’s Office on Thursday afternoon. The Sheriff’s Office confirmed his arrest, stating, “This subject has been taken into custody without incident.”
In addition to the alleged threats against Trump, Syvrud is wanted for multiple offences, including failure to register as a sex offender. He also faces several warrants in both Wisconsin and Arizona, including charges for driving under the influence and a felony hit-and-run.
The timing of the arrest coincided with Trump’s visit to Cochise County, where he toured the US-Mexico border. During his visit, Trump addressed the ongoing border issues and criticized his political rival, Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris, for what he described as lax immigration policies. When asked by reporters about the ongoing manhunt for Syvrud, Trump responded, “No, I have not heard that, but I am not that surprised and the reason is because I want to do things that are very bad for the bad guys.”
This incident marks the latest in a series of threats against political figures during the current election cycle. Just earlier this month, a 66-year-old Virginia man was arrested on suspicion of making death threats against Vice President Kamala Harris and other public officials.
Media
Trump Media & Technology Group Faces Declining Stock Amid Financial Struggles and Increased Competition
Trump Media & Technology Group’s stock has taken a significant hit, dropping more than 11% this week following a disappointing earnings report and the return of former U.S. President Donald Trump to the rival social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. This decline is part of a broader downward trend for the parent company of Truth Social, with the stock plummeting nearly 43% since mid-July. Despite the sharp decline, some investors remain unfazed, expressing continued optimism for the company’s financial future or standing by their investment as a show of political support for Trump.
One such investor, Todd Schlanger, an interior designer from West Palm Beach, explained his commitment to the stock, stating, “I’m a Republican, so I supported him. When I found out about the stock, I got involved because I support the company and believe in free speech.” Schlanger, who owns around 1,000 shares, is a regular user of Truth Social and is excited about the company’s future, particularly its plans to expand its streaming services. He believes Truth Social has the potential to be as strong as Facebook or X, despite the stock’s recent struggles.
However, Truth Social’s stock performance is deeply tied to Trump’s political influence and the company’s ability to generate sustainable revenue, which has proven challenging. An earnings report released last Friday showed the company lost over $16 million in the three-month period ending in June. Revenue dropped by 30%, down to approximately $836,000 compared to $1.2 million during the same period last year.
In response to the earnings report, Truth Social CEO Devin Nunes emphasized the company’s strong cash position, highlighting $344 million in cash reserves and no debt. He also reiterated the company’s commitment to free speech, stating, “From the beginning, it was our intention to make Truth Social an impenetrable beachhead of free speech, and by taking extraordinary steps to minimize our reliance on Big Tech, that is exactly what we are doing.”
Despite these assurances, investors reacted negatively to the quarterly report, leading to a steep drop in stock price. The situation was further complicated by Trump’s return to X, where he posted for the first time in a year. Trump’s exclusivity agreement with Trump Media & Technology Group mandates that he posts personal content first on Truth Social. However, he is allowed to make politically related posts on other social media platforms, which he did earlier this week, potentially drawing users away from Truth Social.
For investors like Teri Lynn Roberson, who purchased shares near the company’s peak after it went public in March, the decline in stock value has been disheartening. However, Roberson remains unbothered by the poor performance, saying her investment was more about supporting Trump than making money. “I’m way at a loss, but I am OK with that. I am just watching it for fun,” Roberson said, adding that she sees Trump’s return to X as a positive move that could expand his reach beyond Truth Social’s “echo chamber.”
The stock’s performance holds significant financial implications for Trump himself, as he owns a 65% stake in Trump Media & Technology Group. According to Fortune, this stake represents a substantial portion of his net worth, which could be vulnerable if the company continues to struggle financially.
Analysts have described Truth Social as a “meme stock,” similar to companies like GameStop and AMC that saw their stock prices driven by ideological investments rather than business fundamentals. Tyler Richey, an analyst at Sevens Report Research, noted that the stock has ebbed and flowed based on sentiment toward Trump. He pointed out that the recent decline coincided with the rise of U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic presidential nominee, which may have dampened perceptions of Trump’s 2024 election prospects.
Jay Ritter, a finance professor at the University of Florida, offered a grim long-term outlook for Truth Social, suggesting that the stock would likely remain volatile, but with an overall downward trend. “What’s lacking for the true believer in the company story is, ‘OK, where is the business strategy that will be generating revenue?'” Ritter said, highlighting the company’s struggle to produce a sustainable business model.
Still, for some investors, like Michael Rogers, a masonry company owner in North Carolina, their support for Trump Media & Technology Group is unwavering. Rogers, who owns over 10,000 shares, said he invested in the company both as a show of support for Trump and because of his belief in the company’s financial future. Despite concerns about the company’s revenue challenges, Rogers expressed confidence in the business, stating, “I’m in it for the long haul.”
Not all investors are as confident. Mitchell Standley, who made a significant return on his investment earlier this year by capitalizing on the hype surrounding Trump Media’s planned merger with Digital World Acquisition Corporation, has since moved on. “It was basically just a pump and dump,” Standley told ABC News. “I knew that once they merged, all of his supporters were going to dump a bunch of money into it and buy it up.” Now, Standley is staying away from the company, citing the lack of business fundamentals as the reason for his exit.
Truth Social’s future remains uncertain as it continues to struggle with financial losses and faces stiff competition from established social media platforms. While its user base and investor sentiment are bolstered by Trump’s political following, the company’s long-term viability will depend on its ability to create a sustainable revenue stream and maintain relevance in a crowded digital landscape.
As the company seeks to stabilize, the question remains whether its appeal to Trump’s supporters can translate into financial success or whether it will remain a volatile stock driven more by ideology than business fundamentals.
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