Hackers Are Impersonating Government Agents To Steal Your Money

Hackers Are Impersonating Government Agents To Steal Your Money

Scammers are impersonating law enforcement agents and government officials to extract financial and personal data from victims, the FBI warns.

Hackers are using new tactics to get away with users’ financial and personal data by impersonating law enforcement and government agents, the FBI says. The number of scams and hacks has been on the rise lately, with attacks on smartphones overtaking those on personal computers due to vulnerability and increased usage.

People now live in an increasingly digital world. Connected devices, mobiles, computers, tablets, and even IoT products present the perfect opportunity for hackers who need to operate in the dark, never revealing their true identity. Deepfakes, the use of AI to alter audio, photographs, and video, is another rising trend among digital criminals.

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The latest fraud scheme uncovered by the FBI involves scammers impersonating well-known law enforcement agents or government officials. The hackers establish contact with the intent of extorting money or stealing personal and financial information. Scammers often spoof authentic phone numbers and real names of agents or officials. The impersonators are using romance scams, lottery scams, and government grant fraud to extort victims.

The Con And How To Keep Safe

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Phone calls and even showing up in person is a trick directly taken from the old-school book of hackers. This, more direct contact, is employed when a scammer needs to con a victim into giving away key information. These are different from zero-click hacks. The FBI says that scammers are using an urgent and aggressive tone. Additionally, they refuse to talk to anyone but the victim. Payment is demanded in prepaid cards, cryptocurrency ATMs, mail, or wire transfers.

One of the most used cons is telling victims their identity or license has been stolen and used in criminal activity and asking them to verify it by reading out financial and personal data. SMS and phone calls are also used to trick victims into believing their documents need renewal or that their data has been breached.

The FBI explains that neither law enforcement agents nor government officials will ever contact the public and demand payment via cryptocurrency ATMs or prepaid cards over the phone or via SMS. The bureau adds that legal actions and investigations are done in person and with official letters and not over digital media. “Always ask for credentials, and never give personally identifying information to anyone without verifying the person is who it says it is,” the FBI says. If someone is a victim of a scam, they should cease all contact with the hacker, notify their financial institution, safeguard their accounts, and contact local law enforcement or file a complaint with the FBI IC3.

Next: Your Two-Factor Authentication Is Not Secure, New Study Says

Source: FBI

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