HOUSTON — The FBI is sounding the alarm on a disturbing and fast-growing scheme known as the Phantom Hacker Scam. Officials say it’s increasingly targeting older adults, leaving many victims with emptied bank accounts and shattered financial security.
How the scam works
The scam unfolds in three calculated phases, each designed to build trust and urgency while pulling victims deeper into the deception:
- Tech support imposter – Criminals first reach out by phone or online, claiming your computer is infected. They convince you to download software, giving them remote access to your device.
- Financial institution Imposter – Next, a different scammer poses as someone from your bank. They warn you that your money isn’t safe and urge you to transfer it into a so-called “secure account.”
- Government imposter – Finally, someone pretending to be from a federal agency pressures you to stay quiet and not contact real authorities. This intimidation reinforces the earlier lies, making the scam feel legitimate and urgent.
Each stage builds on the last, creating a convincing illusion that victims are protecting themselves when they’re robbed.
The financial impact is staggering. According to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center:
- Seniors reported $4.885 billion in losses in 2024, a 43% increase over the $3.417 billion reported in 2023.
- The average loss per victim was about $83,000.
- More than 7,500 people said they lost over $100,000 each.
The FBI is urging the public to take the following steps to stay safe:
- Ignore unsolicited pop-ups, texts, or calls claiming your device has a security problem.
- Never download software at the request of an unknown caller.
- Keep records of suspicious contacts.
Report incidents immediately to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov…