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| - Since at least 2020, Facebook and WhatsApp users copied and pasted a message promoting this rumor. We determined this entire matter was a hoax. We found no evidence to support the made-up claim hackers stole personal and financial data from 500,000 users by embedding "phishing code" in greeting-centric photos and videos. Also, the message referenced a "warning from Olga Nikolaevna's lawyer" and an "SOS" from "Shanghai China International News." A Google search revealed no results for any such lawyer issuing a warning, and "Shanghai China International News" does not exist.
For at least several years, Facebook and WhatsApp users copied and pasted into posts an advisory telling others to delete any of their posted photo and video files displaying greetings of "good morning" and "good evening," and also any religious messages. The posts said hackers hid "phishing code" within such media files to steal their personal data and banking information, already victimizing 500,000 people. The posts also mentioned the advisory originated in a warning from a lawyer for a person named "Olga Nikolaevna," following an "SOS" from "Shanghai China International News."
We located numerous Facebook users sharing the text promoting this rumor in February 2025. Several Snopes readers also emailed us to ask about the matter at around the same time, and in recent years. The oldest post we have located existed in a Reddit thread from Sept. 5, 2020.
However, we determined this advisory was a hoax. A Google search found no evidence to support the claim hackers had stolen personal and financial data from 500,000 users by embedding "phishing code" in their greeting-centric photos and videos. Also, the message referenced a "warning from Olga Nikolaevna's lawyer" and an "SOS" from "Shanghai China International News." Further web searches revealed no results for an advisory from any such lawyer, nor any news media outlet by the name "Shanghai China International News."
For this claim, we chose a rating of false, seeing as the rumor featured misleading, false and unfounded assertions, similar to other past false-rated claims regarding hoaxes appearing in copied-and-pasted Facebook posts.
We contacted Meta, the parent company of Facebook and WhatsApp, to ask about the rumor, in particular if they ever uncovered information regarding hackers successfully including malicious code within files uploaded to the platforms. We will update this article if we receive a response.
The Viral Message
Users who shared the old hoax message in February 2025 did so with a large block of text mentioning the unfounded claim of a "warning from Olga Nikolaevna's lawyer," as well as the false claims of a nonexistent news media outlet named "Shanghai China International News" and the story of 500,000 defrauded victims:
Fwd:No more pictures with good morning & good night read below carefully. It's true.
Starting tomorrow, Please do not send or receive network pictures. Look at the following article to understand. I'm going to stop too.Please delete all photos and videos of Good morning, Evening and other greetings and religious messages as soon as possible. Read the following article carefully and you will understand why.Read all! Please send this message urgently to as many friends as possible to prevent illegal intrusion.
Warning from Olga Nikolaevnas lawyer:
Attention! For those who like to send Good morning! It's a beautiful day! Good evening!picture. Please do not send these good messages.Today, Shanghai China International News sent out SOS to all subscribers and experts - advise: Do not send pictures and videos of good morning, good night, etc.The report shows that hackers who designed these images, and these images and videos are beautiful, But there is a hidden phishing code, and when everyone sends these messages, hackers use your device to steal personal information, such as bank card information and data, and break into your phone.It is reported that more than 500,000 victims have been defrauded.If you want to say hello to others, please write your own greetings and send your own pictures and videos so that you can protect yourself and your family and friends.Important ! To be safe, please be sure to delete all greetings and pictures on your phone. If someone has sent you such images, remove them from your device immediately. Malicious code takes some time to deploy, so if you take action immediately, there will be no harm done.Tell all your friends to prevent being hacked.
Say hello in your own words and only send your own created images and videos to greet, which is completely safe for yourself, your family and friends. Please understand what I mean! Everyone has a bank card attached to their mobile phone, and everyones mobile phone has many contacts.
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