The FBI first issued a public service announcement on the Phantom Hacker scam in September 2023. But on July 15, FBI Los Angeles warned of the scam with a post on X (formerly Twitter). 'The FBI reminds the public to beware of Phantom Hacker Scams where cyber criminals use a 3 prong attack against victims using tech support, financial institution, & government impersonation scams simultaneously,' stated the agency.
The three-prong attack starts with a tech support imposter contacting a victim by text, email, phone call or a computer pop-up window, and pretending to be a customer support representative from a real company, according to the FBI notice. The message tells the victim to call a number for 'assistance' and the imposter instructs the victim to download a software program that gives the scammer access to the device. Next, the scammer tells the victim to open their financial accounts to see if there are unauthorized charges, and in the process sees which account has the most money, then tells the victim they will get a phone call from their financial institution's fraud department.
In phase two of the scam, an imposter posing as the financial institution representative calls the victim and claims that their accounts and device have been breached by a foreign hacker and that they need to move the funds to a 'safe' Federal Reserve or US government agency account. The scammer tells the victim to move the money using a wire transfer, cryptocurrency or cash, to what are really overseas recipients. The imposter also tells the victim not to tell anyone why they are transferring the funds.
The third and final phase of the scam involves the victim hearing from a fake Federal Reserve or government agency worker. The imposter stresses again that the victim's money is 'unsafe' and needs to be transferred to an 'alias' account. 'If the victim becomes suspicious of the government imposter, the scammer may send an email or a letter on what appears to be official US Government letterhead to legitimize the scam,' according to the FBI notice.
The FBI advises people not to click on unsolicited text messages, email links and pop-ups, and not to call any number in them. People should not download any software because it is meant to allow scammers to control their devices. The US government never requests Americans to send funds through wire transfers to foreign accounts or through cryptocurrency or gift cards.
From January to June 2023, victims' losses exceeded $542million and the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) received 19,000 complaints, with nearly half of victims over age 60. 'Victims often suffer the loss of entire banking, savings, retirement, or investment accounts under the guise of "protecting" their assets,' the agency stated. Anyone who encounters a suspected Phantom Hacker scam should report it to their local FBI field office and the FBI IC3.
FBI issues warning over app scam
版主： 牛河梁
#2 Re: FBI issues warning over app scam
今天接了一个诈骗电话，自称是加拿大电信及广播电视管理局，居然连加拿大首都是哪里也不知道。
+2.00 积分 [版主 牛河梁 发放的奖励]
#6 Re: FBI issues warning over app scam
问题是自称CRTC – Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission的班加罗尔口音骗子们的线路太差了，听不清楚。还是胡贱口音骗子的线路音质好，可是它们听不懂英语。
关键是吧，我这原装Google Phone app自动把这些号码标注为骗子。LOL
关键是吧，我这原装Google Phone app自动把这些号码标注为骗子。LOL
#7 Re: FBI issues warning over app scam
你也是够闲的。明码骗子电话也接。geust 写了： 2025年 7月 28日 20:25 问题是自称CRTC – Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission的班加罗尔口音骗子们的线路太差了，听不清楚。还是胡贱口音骗子的线路音质好，可是它们听不懂英语。
关键是吧，我这原装Google Phone app自动把这些号码标注为骗子。LOL
说起来，老牛当年接的一口标准满大人。
开口就是国安训斥老牛为啥不接他们电话。
老牛连傻[第二个字母]都懒得回。直接挂掉。