A 26-year-old man from Oswego, Illinois, is at the center of a federal Snapchat-hacking case that prosecutors say helped a former college coach harvest login codes from nearly 600 women. According to the indictment, Kyle Svara is accused of posing as Snapchat support, tricking victims into handing over one-time security codes, then using those codes to slip into private accounts and download intimate photos. Svara is scheduled to appear in federal court in Boston on Feb. 4.
Charges and scope of the case
Svara is facing charges of aggravated identity theft, wire fraud, computer fraud, conspiracy to commit computer fraud, and making false statements related to child pornography, according to ABC7 Chicago. Prosecutors say the scheme involved collecting Snapchat security codes from roughly 570 women, and investigators believe Svara used those codes to access more than 50 accounts without permission. Some of the alleged targets were students at Colby College in Maine, while others lived in or around Plainfield, Illinois.
How the alleged Snapchat scam worked
According to prosecutors, Svara relied on what investigators call "social engineering." They say he pretended to be Snapchat support, contacted victims using anonymized phone numbers, and prompted them to reply with six-digit verification codes. With those codes in hand, he allegedly logged into the victims’ accounts. The indictment states the activity took place between May 2020 and February 2021 while Svara was a student at Colby College, and that some of the images pulled from hacked accounts were later traded or sold online, as reported by FOX 32 Chicago.
FBI outreach and what they are looking for
The FBI has set up an online intake form and published telephone numbers and an IP address that investigators say are tied to the scheme. The Bureau says the person behind the activity was based in Illinois but allegedly targeted victims across the country. The FBI advisory notes that many victims reported seeing unexpected login notifications from an iPad, and it urges anyone who received suspicious Snapchat messages or prompts to fill out the intake form, according to the FBI.
Role of former Northeastern coach and his prior conviction
Federal prosecutors say former Northeastern University track coach Steve Waithe hired and paid Svara to break into the Snapchat accounts of women he had coached or had personal relationships with. Waithe has already been convicted in a related federal case and was sentenced in 2024. In a detailed press release, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Massachusetts described Waithe’s earlier scheme, which involved sham social media accounts, fake online personas and requests for photos that were used to obtain explicit images.
Next steps in court
Svara is scheduled to appear in federal court in Boston on Feb. 4, and prosecutors are asking anyone who believes they may have been targeted to contact the FBI, according to ABC7 Chicago. If he is convicted, Svara faces a range of penalties for aggravated identity theft, wire fraud, computer fraud and false statements related to child pornography, as outlined by prosecutors and reported by FOX 32 Chicago.
Why the case hits home
The allegations highlight how easily account-recovery tools can be twisted by someone who knows how to sound official. Federal authorities say college students and young adults are especially vulnerable when they receive surprise security alerts or login prompts that appear legitimate. Investigators say they are working to identify potential victims, gather more evidence and connect those affected with available resources as the case moves forward.
