06/01/2026
Wagoner County Sheriff’s Office warning residents about new “Selfie Fingerprint” Scam
Wagoner County Sheriff Chris Elliott would like to warn residents about a growing cybercrime trend involving criminals using artificial intelligence and high-resolution social media photos to potentially steal biometric information, including fingerprints.
According to cybersecurity experts and national news reporting, scammers are now using AI-enhanced software to zoom in on high-quality selfies where individuals display hand gestures, especially “peace sign” photos, to recreate partial fingerprint patterns. In some cases, experts say those images can potentially be used to bypass fingerprint security systems on phones, banking applications, and other personal devices.
Scammers may use stolen biometric information alongside phishing scams, identity theft schemes, fake account recovery attempts, and impersonation fraud.
The Sheriff’s Office encourages residents to take the following precautions:
• Avoid posting close-up selfies that clearly show fingertips or palm details
• Use strong passwords and multi-factor authentication instead of relying only on fingerprint access
• Be cautious when sharing personal photos publicly on social media
• Review privacy settings on all social media accounts
• Never provide personal information to unknown callers, emails, or online messages
• Monitor bank accounts and online accounts regularly for suspicious activity
The FBI and cybersecurity experts are warning the public that artificial intelligence is making scams more convincing and more difficult to detect. Criminals are increasingly using AI tools for identity theft, deepfake scams, phishing attempts, and biometric fraud. Residents who believe they may have been targeted by a scam should contact the Wagoner County Sheriff’s Office at 918-485-3124. Additionally, it is suggested that you report online fraud to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center at IC3.gov.
The Wagoner County Sheriff’s Office reminds citizens that if something feels suspicious, slow down, verify the source, and never send money or personal information under pressure.
