Smartphone users are at risk from criminals “capitalizing on fear and intimidation,” the FBI warns, as a malicious new attack surges. All iPhone and Android users are now told: “Be wary of answering phone calls from numbers you do not recognize.”
The attack is as simple as it is devious. Criminals pretend to be federal agents or police officers and then work up a scam that ultimately demands payment to avoid an arrest or court appearance or jury duty or worse. And victims fall for it. “Because nobody wants to be the subject of a law enforcement investigation,” the FBI says.
We have seen such attacks across the U.S., but the latest warning comes from Boston, where the FBI issued a statement assuring citizens that “law enforcement and federal agencies do not call individuals threatening arrest or demanding money.”
Increasingly these attacks make use of spoofed phone numbers, which can make it appear that the call is coming from an FBI field office or similar. As ever, smartphone users are told not to engage or react. Hang-up, and if you have any doubts whether it’s a scam, you should call the authorities independently to check.
Ted Docks, the bureau’s SAIC in Boston, told local media: “We’ve seen an increase in these scams which is why we’re reminding the public to resist the urge to act immediately and verify who is actually contacting you.”
This is a nationwide threat. In a separate warning, the FBI’s Charlotte NC field office has warned that citizens are being called to be told they have missed jury duty and are now subject to a federal arrest warrant. “Legitimate arrest warrants are not emailed or texted,” the bureau said in a statement. “They are served by a law enforcement officer or court official and never include a demand for payment to avoid jail time,”
The FBI’s advice is simple: “Trust your instincts and hang up on callers who make you feel pressured or uncomfortable.”
The fact these impersonation scams are surging tells you they’re working. And while readers of cybersecurity articles are more scam-aware than most, the real threat is to the less technically savvy and especially to the elderly. It’s worth warning those around you that might be vulnerable to such attacks.