The FBI has issued an urgent warning to iPhone and Android users regarding a specific type of phone call. In the past, people typically communicated by phone calls, as texting wasn’t as prevalent. However, in recent times, it has been observed that Gen Z tends to avoid phone conversations, especially with strangers. This behavior stems from the increasing prevalence of scams, particularly during the holiday season.
Fraudsters have become more sophisticated in their methods to deceive people out of their money, prompting the FBI to caution those receiving new smartphones this Christmas. A prevalent scam involves imposters pretending to be from technical support, banks, the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), or even local police, and they can convincingly manipulate caller ID numbers.
Victims often find themselves coerced into transferring money or installing malicious software. Scammers create a false sense of urgency to prevent their targets from thinking it through. Removing malware, if it’s detected at all, can be incredibly challenging.
Consider, for instance, the dangers of QR codes. A single scan can grant a stranger access to your phone, exposing sensitive information such as credit card details, banking credentials, photos, and contacts.
The FBI advises hanging up immediately on unsolicited calls, even if they appear to be from a reliable source, as the likelihood of such calls being genuine is minimal.
Scammers may claim your bank account is compromised or that you need to move funds to avoid arrest. Police departments from Virginia to New York have dealt with cases where fraudsters pose as law enforcement, pressuring victims to transfer money. The police have stated: “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.”