Instagram Account Used to Intimidate Violent Crime Witnesses

An anonymous Instagram user operated an account aimed at exposing and intimidating violent crime witnesses in Philadelphia, Penn., before it was removed from the site Thursday night

The "rats215" account had nearly 7,900 followers, posted more than 150 photos and outed more than 30 witnesses since February, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

The goal of the account appeared to be to intimidate future witnesses from testifying in violent crime cases, or "expose rats" as the account's creator put it. The Inquirer described the account-holder's tactics as follows: Read more...