Momo Challenge hoax

The "Momo Challenge" is a form of cyberbullying that spreads through social media and cell phone. After the victims are enticed to contact a Momo account through social media network WhatsApp, they receive graphic threats and are instructed to perform a series of dangerous tasks. The scheme may include hacking the victim's phone. A young teenager trapped by the scheme may have committed suicide as a result. Despite claims that the phenomenon is reaching worldwide proportions, the number of actual complaints is quite small.

The "Momo Challenge" relies on threats to get the victims to perform tasks. Targeting teenagers, "Momo" relies on Whatsapp messages to convince potential victims to use their mobile phone to contact one of several "Momo account" phone numbers. Whoever has set up the account then repeatedly threatens the victim to make personal information public (doxing), or inflict harm on family members, unless a succession of tasks is performed. Some victims are threatened with supernatural harm such as magical curses. The threats and subsequent communications are often accompanied by disturbing, scary or gory pictures.^[1][2][3][4]

Its spread and the suicide of a 12-year-old in Argentina are stoking fears that this could be the next Blue Whale. WhatsApp is encouraging its users to block phone numbers related to the Momo Challenge and to report them to the company.^[1][2]

Authorities in Argentina issued a warning in July 2018, after a 12-year-old girl from Ingeniero Maschwitz committed suicide on July 21, 2018. An examination of her phone's content turned up WhatsApp logs and video she recorded immediately before hanging herself near her parents' backyard, where her brother found her. She might not have been in actual contact with a Momo account, but investigators are looking for an adolescent who might have encouraged her to commit suicide and intended to upload the video of her death as part of a Momo challenge.^[1][3][4][5]

Local authorities are concerned that several classmates of the victims have seen Momo videos and have made psychological help available.^[4]

The Momo Challenge gained the public's attention in July, 2018, when it was noticed by a youtuber with a large following. After one month, multiple people probably picked up the Momo persona and methods. There is speculation the scheme originated from Japan but quickly spread to Latin America: phone numbers associated with "Momo" originate from Japan, Colombia and Mexico. It may have used a Facebook group popular with Spanish-speakers in the initial stages^[1] and has since appeared within a Minecraft server as well as on YouTube channels.^[6][7]

As of mid-August, 2018, "Momo" messages have been reported in countries such as Mexico, Argentina, the United States, France, and Germany, but police forces do not report actual harm beyond the girls who committed suicide in Argentina.

A 12-year-old girl from Ingeniero Maschwitz may have committed suicide after being bullied by an older WhatsApp user who might have been involved with a Momo account.^[1][3][4] As of July 25, police had not located the suspect.^[4] The media are reporting the suicide of a 11-year old might also be connected with the scheme.^[1]

Authorities in Brazil have not confirmed any case linked to the Momo Challenge. The national SaferNet non-profit organization has been approached by concerned parents and warned that this is only one of a variety of schemes to extort money and information from people.^[6]

In the province of Quebec, local police forces of Longueuil, Sherbrooke and Gatineau have indicated that people in their jurisdiction have been in contact with the Momo Challenge. They are asking people not to use the phone number provided in the WhatsApp messages and to send screen capture images of their phone to police authorities. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police and other police forces say they are monitoring the spread of the phenomenon.^[8][9][10]

In France, the police has received no complaints about the phenomenon, but a group at the State Department is reviewing the situation daily.^[11]

In Germany, the police was only aware of mentions made in chain letters. They are asking the population to act prudently when faced with that kind of cell phone contacts.^[12]

The Luxembourg police confirmed one case on its territory.^[13]

The Ajmer (Rajasthan) police are investigating the role the Momo Challenge might have played in the death of a class 10 girl who committed suicide by hanging herself in her home. However, a note left by the victim presumably did not mention online activities, but expressed discouragement with low grades.^[14]

Mexican authorities investigating internet crimes distributed detailed information to parents about the methods of the scheme. They estimate it has spread through a Facegroup group frequented by young people. They warned those caught in the scheme risked self-harm, hacking and extorsion.^[3][1]

Spain's National Police warned people to stay away from new "challenges" applications that pop up on WhatsApp, indicating the Momo phenomenon was in vogue among teenagers.^[6]

In early August, 2018, various local police forces in the United States have been warning the population about the dangers of the phenomenon. Some jurisdictions have received several complaints.^[15]

A police officer in Ohio was surprised to see the Momo character in his son's Minecraft game. After media reports started to describe the link between variants of the popular game and Momo, Microsoft announced at was taking measures to "restrict access to the mod" developed by one of the game's users.^[7][16]

To represent "Momo", the accounts use the picture of a woman/bird sculpture produced by special effects firm Link Factory. The firm denies any involvement with the current unpleasantness. The pictures have been posted online in 2016, when the sculpture was publicly exhibited. With its bulging eyes and huge mouth, images of the sculpture can be quite scary. A close-up of the face gives the impression of a mask, or a woman with strangely distorted features.^[1][3]

Early news reports stating the image was of a sculpture of Japanese artist Midori Hayashi turned out to be incorrect. Hayashi indicated that was not her piece and Internet users identified the correct source.^[1]

• Blue Whale Challenge
• Cyberbullying
• Suicide and the Internet
• Shut Up and Dance (Black Mirror)