![\"FBI](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/1753483335_98_960x0.jpg\")
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It starts with a message \u2014 it ends with you losing your life savings.<\/p>\n
NurPhoto via Getty Images<\/p>\n
Republished on July 25 with information on new tactics as attacks evolve.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt starts with an unsolicited message,\u201d the FBI warns, \u201cand it ends with you losing your savings.\u201d Attacks are now surging across the U.S., targeting citizens with malicious texts<\/a>, emails<\/a> and popups<\/a>. And per the latest warnings, with dangerous apps as well.<\/p>\n \u201cThe threat is growing fast,\u201d the bureau says, as citizens across the U.S. are contacted by their banks with messages urging them to \u201ccall tech support for assistance.\u201d When you respond, you\u2019re told your money is at immediate risk from a hacker who has broken into one of your devices, and that you will be guided through a process to keep it safe.<\/p>\n ForbesMicrosoft\u2019s AI Upgrade\u2014A Reason To Stop Using Google Chrome?By Zak Doffman<\/a><\/p>\n But the \u201chacker\u201d is a phantom. The real threat comes from the person you\u2019re speaking with on the phone \u2014 or rather the people. You will speak with more than one.<\/p>\n Because you\u2019ve been \u201chacked,\u201d tech support will help you install an app to allow them to verify the security on your device. Once that app is installed, they will ask you to check your bank accounts for fraudulent transactions. But as you do so, the attackers can see what you have and where it is. The scammers will then continue to \u201chelp\u201d you move all that money to a safe account, out of reach of the phantom hacker they have invented.<\/p>\n That safe harbor is their own account or crypto wallet. Your money is then gone.<\/p>\n You should not engage with the text or email or popup in the first place. But even if you do, you must never install any apps or software when asked to do so like this. As the bureau warns, \u201cif someone you don\u2019t know contacts you and asks you to download software, no matter who they say they work for, don\u2019t do it.\u201d It is that simple.<\/p>\n In recent days we have seen new warnings for citizens to beware these phantom hacker attacks<\/a> and to beware fake calls from government agencies \u2014 including the FBI<\/a> \u2014 that can spoof field office phone numbers to make scams harder to detect.<\/p>\n As ever, the good news is that staying safe is all down to 100% adherence to golden rules. In this instance \u2014 never install apps when asked to do so in unsolicited calls, texts or emails. But the same is true with calls from supposed law enforcement on missed jury duty or unpaid fines. And with links in texts about unpaid tolls or motoring fines. And with tech support numbers that pop up on your screen, asking you to call.<\/p>\n Call scams are surging across a range of lures, including the increasingly widespread impersonation of law enforcement agencies demanding payment to avoid arrest. The latest such warning<\/a> has just been issued in Illinois.<\/p>\n But you\u2019re still more likely to be targeted by texts with malicious links than calls. There are literally billions of these messages being sent out, many of which are filtered but millions still get through to the intended targets each day. The latest Amazon scam, which has just surged 5000% in a fortnight<\/a>, is the latest of these.<\/p>\n FBI\u2019s Boston field office<\/a> has just issued another alert as the latest lure \u2014 unspecified DMV motoring offenses \u2014 sweeps across the a state. \u201cDrivers in our area have received text messages falsely claiming to be from the DMV requesting payment to resolve traffic violations or unpaid fees,\u201d the bureau pointed on X.<\/p>\n \u201cIn reality,\u201d the FBI says, \u201cit\u2019s an attempt by criminals to access your financial & personal information. Don\u2019t click the link and report the fraud.\u201d<\/p>\n These Phantom Hacker attacks use a text message for the initial lure, encouraging you to call a support number which then puts you in touch with the scammers. But it\u2019s now just as likely the attack will begin with a phone call<\/a> pretending to be from the bank.<\/p>\n The number could be spoofed to appear to be the bank\u2019s genuine number, and because that\u2019s the case it\u2019s not enough to simply check the number online and stay on the call. You need to hang up and call back independently. This also brings the added urgency of an unsolicited call to warn your money is at risk and to push you to act fast.<\/p>\n In this the advice from all major banks is the same as for the major tech brands being impersonated for the tech support variant of this scam. None of these organizations will ever call you unexpectedly to warn of this kind of fraud.<\/p>\n Bank of America, by way of example, is clear with its account holders. It will \u201cnever text, email, call, or visit you at your home asking for personal or account information.\u201d It also advises those banking customers \u201cremember, never click a link or download an attachment from someone you don\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n But you also need to remember that AI is being harnessed by these cyber criminals to make everything more realistic and believable. This makes it easy for criminals to send faked letters to other documents to convince you they\u2019re legitimate.<\/p>\n And it could get even worse. New warnings have been issued in Europe<\/a>, where these banking attacks can now even result in scammers visiting victims\u2019 homes. It starts as per usual, with messages asking bank clients \u201cto confirm a fake payment,\u201d and then prompting them \u201cto call the provided phone number to cancel the transaction.\u201d<\/p>\n It\u2019s at this point that an app may be deployed to give the attacker access to account information, enabling them to focus the next stages of the scam. But in France, these tactics have also evolved to steal physical banking cards, enabling attackers to withdraw cash from ATMs or to make purchases.<\/p>\n \u201cSome reports suggest that once the fake phone call has ended, scammers now send accomplices pretending to work as couriers for the victim\u2019s bank to collect the targeted credit card. The information used by the scammer on the potential victim, such as their home address and phone number, could be obtained in various ways, including phishing, account hacking, or data leaks.\u201d<\/p>\n The physical lures even include \u201cfake couriers knocking on the victim\u2019s door, sometimes wearing a badge or branded clothing from the relevant bank, to collect their card.\u201d<\/p>\n As one bank warns, \u201cthe scammer may ask you to cut your card in half without damaging the chip. This will allow them to continue using it without your knowledge. In some cases, the fraudster may also provide you with a fake replacement card.\u201d<\/p>\n But it all starts with a call or a text. If you know the signs of a scam \u2014 a fraudulent call or message, then the rest is irrelevant. You won\u2019t be drawn into the attack.<\/p>\n