FBI Warns New Jerseyans About “Phantom Hackers” and Your Savings

I hate to hear this, once again there's another scam that's primarily targeting the older generation, but it could happen to anybody.  It's just not right. I always was worried about my not so savvy parents on the computer or phone would fall for some scam that they would lose their life savings.

The FBI wants New Jerseyans to take warning about something called the Phantom Hacker Scam. It's pretty serious.

This Phantom Hacker scam is similar to a tech support scam that you’ve probably been warned about. And especially through that annual cyber security training your office makes you take, which ours is happening soon in our office. We just received the email.

What is the Phantom Hacker Scam?

This is a tough one, there are THREE STEPS TO THIS SCAM. The first layer of the scam, someone will reach out mostly by phone, but possibly email and maybe even text posing as someone from a respected technology company and the company will be real or possibly familiar to you.

Step 1 – Tech Support Imposter - will try to convince you that your computer has been compromised and to follow their instructions to install a certain software. This software allows them to run a virus scan for you. And, of course, the scan will show that you've been hacked and your information and financial accounts are at risk. THEY WILL ASK YOU TO PULL UP YOUR ACCOUNTS, mostly bank accounts, to see what they can steal from.

Step 2 – Financial Institution Imposter - the "fraud department" at your bank, because they know your information now, and they lie to you and tell you that hackers are from a foreign country. (This is just scary writing about this.) And they continue to tell you you need to move your money. HERE'S a huge red flag when they instruct you to move your money through a wire transfer, cash, or crypto. Anytime anyone asks you to wire money, it's most likely a scam or false.

Step 3 – U.S. Government Imposter - will pretend to be whatever government agency that you're supposed to be setting up an account with. They will reassure you that you're doing the right thing and the emails will look official. This is very scary. We've all fallen for something that just doesn't look right.

THE SCARY THING, none of these people are the real thing. They are completely trying to drain your accounts or worse your retirement money. PLEASE do not click on any unsolicited links. Please do not download any software that was sent to you by a stranger. And never give any information over the phone and don't call numbers you don't know. Just know that the government will NEVER ask you to wire money.

What do you do if YOU were targeted by a Phantom Scammer?

Reach out to the FBI by CLICKING Internet Crime Complaint Center. Please give them as much information as you have, including names, names of companies, etc. They'll want to know how they contacted you and any information if you transferred money to an account, where it went.