The FBI has issued a warning about a sophisticated 'phantom hacker' scam that has stolen over $1 billion from elderly victims in the US over the past year. The scam, which is now spreading globally, uses AI to mimic voices and manipulate caller ID, making fraudulent calls appear legitimate.
The scam typically begins with a pop-up, text, or email that appears to be from customer support, tricking victims into installing software that gives fraudsters remote access to their computers. Victims are then contacted by someone posing as their bank, claiming their accounts have been hacked and urging them to move funds to a 'secure' government entity, such as the Federal Reserve.
Finally, a fake government official contacts the victim, providing falsified documents to facilitate the transfer. Because victims move the money themselves, recovering lost funds is extremely difficult. The FBI reports a 600% increase in AI-enabled scams over the past year, with experts warning that the scams are becoming more convincing.
Agent Charles Johnston of the Cleveland FBI advised: 'Don't call those phone numbers in the pop-ups, don't click those links in the emails.' The FBI recommends that anyone who suspects they are being scammed should hang up and contact their bank directly using a known number.
