Featured Image Credit: Liubomyr Vorona / Getty
It's another day, another security breach - Scammers are getting more sophisticated by the way, and with it, we have to be more vigilant than ever.
Now, the FBI has issued a warning to Android and iPhone users to hang up if they receive a specific call.
You know it's serious when the FBI gets involved, with the Federal Bureau of Investigation saying there's a circulating scam where someone will pretend to be someone they're not.
The worst bit is that the scammers will use 'spoof' caller ID numbers to masquerade as banks, law enforcement agencies, and even government departments like the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
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Once victims are on the line, these bad actors will pressure them into transferring funds or installing malware on their devices with scare tactics.
These calls typically start with an urgent phone call where they'll claim your bank account is coming under attack or the police have a warrant out for your arrest. They'll then tell you to move money to a 'safe' account.
Law enforcement agencies from Virginia and New York have reported incidents where people have been coerced into handing over money, with scammers even going as far as using the real names of police officers or government officials to make themselves sound more legitimate.
One New York department has reported: "Detectives have been made aware of at least three incidents during which a resident was contacted by phone by a caller identifying themselves as a member of the Suffolk County Police Department who says the resident has a warrant for their arrest and for them to send money."
The FBI reiterates that if you get a call from someone asking you for money, you should immediately hang up. You're told not to press any buttons and don't hand over any personal information. If you suspect that someone isn't who they claim to be, hang up and phone the organization they claim to be from on a verified number.
These increasingly advanced scams come after iPhone users were warned about a new 'quishing' scam. By scanning QR codes, users are taking through to a website that can swipe their details.
The #FBI is warning cell phone users that scam artists are soliciting money. Do not respond. If you believe you owe @TheTollRoads money, contact them directly. pic.twitter.com/5KwiNfeGlv
— FBI Los Angeles (@FBILosAngeles) January 15, 2025
After restaurants and bars moved to a QR system during the pandemic, ordering directly to your table became more popular, and quishing issues reared their heads.
The call scam comes after the Federal Trade Commission warned about a text scam that claims you've got unpaid road taxes: "Scammers are pretending to be tolling agencies from coast to coast and sending texts demanding money.
"Not only is the scammer trying to steal your money, but if you click the link, they could get your personal info (like your driver’s license number) — and even steal your identity.”
That particular scam has been referred to as a 'viral threat' that's jumping from state to state.
In terms of the call scam, the FBI has reminded us that answering these often isn't worth the risk.
