FBI warns of AI-assisted 'Phantom Hacker' scam targeting seniors' savings
The FBI warned that an AI-assisted scam called 'Phantom Hacker' is draining seniors' life savings and retirement accounts through a three-phase fraud operation combining tech support, financial institution and government impersonation. Criminals use AI to generate fake voices and personalize scams with details harvested from victims' social media and online activity.
What happened
The FBI, particularly the Los Angeles office, issued a warning about an AI-assisted scam targeting seniors called the 'Phantom Hacker' scam that operates in three distinct phases.
In the first phase, a tech support impostor contacts victims via text, phone call or email and directs them to download a program allowing remote access to their computer, then asks victims to open financial accounts to check for unauthorized charges. In the second phase, a financial institution impostor calls the victim claiming their funds have been accessed by a foreign hacker and must be moved to a safe third-party account. In the third phase, a US government impostor provides further instructions.
Criminals use AI to generate convincing fake voices and to harvest personal data from the internet and social media accounts to personalize scams for individual targets.
Reported impact
The scam is described as 'devastating' for elderly Americans, with bank and savings accounts being drained, including entire life savings and retirement accounts.
The scam has been associated with losses described as reaching into the billions of dollars.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.