FBI Warns of New 'Phantom Hacker' Scam Targeting Seniors—Here's What You Need to Know
- The FBI has issued an urgent fraud alert about a sophisticated 'Phantom Hacker' scam preying on seniors, where criminals pose as bank employees to trick victims into draining their savings via fake security moves.
- Scammers use a two-pronged approach: first, a fake text or call from a 'tech support' company warns of a device hack, then a follow-up call from a 'bank fraud team' (actually the same criminal) urges moving funds to a 'safe' account controlled by the FBI.
- Over 2,400 victims have lost a collective $542 million in 2024 alone, according to FBI data, making this one of the fastest-growing cyber-threats targeting older Americans.
- Key red flags: unsolicited contact from anyone claiming to be 'from the FBI,' demands for immediate wire transfers, or requests for remote access to your computer—the FBI never calls individuals for such actions.
- To protect yourself, the FBI advises hanging up immediately, verifying any bank or tech call with a known number, and reporting suspected scams to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).