FBI issues warning to iPhone and Android users to immediately end a phone call if you hear this
The FBI has issued a warning to iPhone and Android users to hang up immediately if they hear this during a call.
A new year runs in, but scam calls continue to surge at an alarming rate.
Smartphones have transformed from simple devices for making calls and playing Snake into always-listening tools that can put your finances and personal data at serious risk if you don't have your wits about you when it comes to cybersecurity.
One notorious hacker responsible for the biggest leak in US history has warned that governments are always spying on us through our phones.
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But it seems scammers keep finding new ways to stay one step ahead, often impersonating people you know or organisations you trust.
One such common scam involves fraudsters posing as technical support representatives, your bank, US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), or even local police departments.
These cons can be worryingly convincing because scammers have figured out how to 'spoof.' Meanwhile, other scammers have been found to use AI create deepfake audio of familiar voices or well-known figures to trick victims.
Victims are then tricked into transferring money from their accounts or unknowingly installing malicious software on their devices.
Like most scams of this type, the fraudster creates a false sense of urgency to pressure you into acting before you have time to think.
Now, the FBI is warning about QR codes.
With just one quick scan of what looks like a harmless code, a scammer could gain complete access to your phone's data, including credit card information, online banking credentials, photos and contacts.
Scammers might contact you, claiming your bank account has been compromised or insisting you transfer funds urgently to avoid arrest. Again, they always stress urgency and try to push you into making a decision.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation advises iPhone and Android users to immediately hang up on unsolicited calls, even if they sound or seem trustworthy.
According to the agency, the chance of such a call being legitimate is so small that it's simply not worth taking the risk.
Police departments from Virginia to New York have received numerous reports from victims who've been targeted by fraudsters impersonating local law enforcement officers over the phone and coercing them into sending money.
"Scams have variations, but generally the caller will identify themself as a law enforcement officer and tell the victim, falsely, that a warrant has been issued because they missed a court date, did not show up for jury duty, have an overdue fine or something similar, and they will be arrested unless they pay right away,” the FBI stated.
If someone reaches out to you, claiming to be law enforcement or requests personal information or money, hang up immediately and contact the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, the force advised.