The FBI warns of a surge in 'phantom hacker' scams where attackers impersonate bank officials to trick victims, especially seniors, into installing malicious software that allows hackers to steal money. The key advice is to never install software or grant control to unknown callers, and to involve trusted family members in financial and device security measures to prevent scams.
The FBI has issued a warning about the increasing prevalence of "Phantom Hacker" scams, which involve scammers impersonating tech support, banking personnel, and government representatives to deceive victims into believing their accounts have been compromised. The scammers then convince victims to download software that grants them remote access to their computers, and subsequently persuade them to transfer money overseas or to a new account for protection. The FBI reported a 40% year-over-year increase in losses incurred from these scams, with victims often losing their entire savings and retirement accounts. Older individuals have been particularly targeted, with nearly 50% of victims being above the age of 60. The FBI advises people to be cautious of unsolicited pop-ups, links, and requests for software downloads, and to avoid granting control of their devices to unknown individuals.
