https://bit.ly/48Tin0X - 🚨 The FBI has issued a warning about a new scam tactic involving couriers who collect cash or precious metals from victims, primarily targeting the elderly. Scammers, posing as tech support, financial advisors, or government officials, deceive victims into liquidating their assets for protection against alleged hacking threats. #ScamAlert #FBISecurity 💸 From May to December last year, these scams resulted in losses exceeding $55 million, with the elderly being the most affected. The FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) received 19,000 complaints in the first half of 2023 alone, with losses totaling around $542 million. Nearly half of these victims were over 60, suffering 66% of the total losses. #SeniorSafety #CyberFraud 🔒 The scammers use sophisticated methods to gain the trust of their victims, often setting up a passcode as a false security measure. Once the assets are handed over, the victims lose all contact with the scammers. This technique is an evolution of the 'phantom hacker scam,' combining impostor tech support with financial and government impersonation. #ConsumerProtection #OnlineScams 📞 Victims typically receive a call to resolve an imaginary problem, leading them to inadvertently grant remote access to their devices. The scammers then exploit this access to check for profitable accounts and instruct victims to transfer funds, often to overseas accounts. #TechSupportScam #CyberAwareness 🛑 To prevent falling victim to these scams, the IC3 advises never purchasing gold or precious metals at the request of supposed government or business representatives. People should protect their personal information, avoid unsolicited communications, and never allow strangers access to their computers. #ScamPrevention #StaySafeOnline 📢 The FBI encourages anyone who suspects such fraudulent activity to report it to the IC3 immediately, providing detailed transaction information to aid in investigations. #ReportFraud #FBIWarning Remember, staying informed and cautious is key to protecting yourself and your loved ones from these sophisticated scams.