US Federal Bureau of Investigations Warns Citizens about Increase in Scammers Operating Under the Phantom Hacker Scheme
The US Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) has issued a warning to citizens regarding a sharp rise in the number of scammers engaging in fraudulent activities under the Phantom Hacker scheme. This scheme, also known as the ghostly hacker scheme, combines various fraudulent strategies and specifically targets elderly individuals who are particularly vulnerable. The scammers operate by impersonating employees of technical support, financial institutions, and government organizations.
Between January and June 2023, the FBI received a staggering 19,000 complaints related to this campaign, resulting in an estimated total loss of $542 million. Alarmingly, nearly half of the victims were individuals aged 60 and above who accounted for 66% of the total losses.
The scam begins with the fraudster posing as a technical support representative from a well-known company. They may initiate contact with potential victims through phone calls, SMS, emails, or even pop-up notifications in web browsers. These messages typically include requests to click on a link or call a specified number. The scammers convince users to download a remote access program, which they claim is for diagnosing computer threats. Subsequently, the hackers inform the victims that their devices have been infected with viruses or have been compromised.
To supposedly “identify” unauthorized financial transactions, victims are then urged to enter their online banking credentials. This allows the scammers to identify which accounts are most suitable for further fraudulent activities.
At this point, a new “character” enters the scheme, impersonating an employee from the victim’s bank or another financial institution where they hold an account. This imposter reiterates that both the accounts and the computer have been hacked, and suggests transferring money to a supposedly “safe” reserve, often claiming it is in a “federal” account.
It is common for funds to