The FBI has published a new warning regarding a tactic threat actors employ in their tech support scams. The advisory stated that these scammers now use courier services to collect money and valuables from their victims.
This new technique highlights the latest sophisticated scheme that preys on unknowing individuals, especially senior citizens.
The federal law enforcement agency received many reports about scammers instructing victims to liquidate their assets into cash and purchase gold, silver, or other precious metals to secure their funds. Once victims comply with these instructions, the scammers will arrange couriers to meet them in person, collecting the cash or precious metals directly.
In addition, these criminals adopt various guises, posing as tech support workers, U.S. government officials, employees of technology companies, or even representatives of financial companies. These perpetrators also use scaring tactics to bait their victims. They lure these victims by claiming that their financial accounts are under imminent threat, prompting victims to take immediate solutions to protect their funds.
These new tech support scams also use metal dealers to entice their victims into acquiring their offers.
According to additional investigations, the elaborate tech support scams could also redirect victims to wire funds to metal dealers who promise to deliver purchased metals directly to their residences.
The scammers provide victims with a passcode to verify the transaction with the courier to add a layer of authenticity and further lure them into a false sense of security.
Tragically, the consequences of falling victim to these scams are critical. The FBI noted that from May to December 2023, the Internet Crime Complaint Center recorded a significant increase in this activity, resulting in the loss of funds that exceeded $55 million.
The warning reminds everyone, especially seniors, to remain cautious and vigilant of unwanted communications, even if the caller or email appears legitimate. Authorities advise individuals to verify the authenticity of such claims before accessing them and report any suspicious activity to law enforcement.
The use of couriers in these tech support scams shows that scammers have improved their level of sophistication. Therefore, increased awareness and vigilance among the public is imperative to prevent these malicious efforts and protect vulnerable assets from financial exploitation.
