![\"FBI](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1765291692_899_0x0.jpg\")
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Why you should never call these phone numbers \u2014 ever.<\/p>\n
NurPhoto via Getty Images<\/p>\n
Updated on Dec. 9th with a new FBI warning to take a beat and stay safe.<\/p>\n
Fresh from The FBI\u2019s account takeover<\/a> warning last week, with more than $260 million<\/a> already stolen in 2025, the bureau has issued a new warning for smartphone users. \u201cCriminals are pretending to be your bank to drain your accounts,\u201d it says<\/a>. But calling certain phone numbers also risks you losing all your life savings.<\/p>\n In these attacks, \u201ccyber criminals gain unauthorized access to the targeted online financial institution, payroll, or health savings account, with the goal of stealing money or information for personal gain.\u201d Accounts are hacked \u201cthrough social engineering techniques \u2014 including texts, calls, and emails \u2014 or through fraudulent websites.\u201d<\/p>\n ForbesSamsung One UI 8.5 Release\u2014Do Not Use This New Galaxy UpdateBy Zak Doffman<\/a><\/p>\n The bureau says you should monitor your accounts, checking for anything unusual. But critically, if you see do anything unexpected, the bureau say \u201cdon\u2019t do an internet search\u201d for the bank\u2019s phone number. You must stop using search engines for numbers. \u201cContact the phone number\/website on the back of your card.\u201d<\/p>\n Just as critically, \u201ctake a beat\u201d the FBI says. That\u2019s the theme<\/a> of its latest campaign for the holiday season. Attackers create a false sense of urgency to trick you into acting before you have time to think. There\u2019s a hacker accessing your account, they\u2019ll say, or a fraudulent transaction about to close. An urgent message or call is a red flag. Period.<\/p>\n Google<\/a> has just issued the same warning<\/a>. \u201cCriminals impersonate banks or other trusted institutions on the phone,\u201d it says, \u201cto try to manipulate victims into sharing their screen in order to reveal banking information or make a financial transfer.\u201d<\/p>\n An Android pilot now shows a warning if you share your screen with an unknown number while opening a banking app. \u201cThe warning includes a 30-second pause period before you\u2019re able to continue, which helps break the \u2018spell\u2019 of the scammer\u2019s social engineering, disrupting the false sense of urgency and panic commonly used.\u201d<\/p>\n It\u2019s not only search engines. The same now applies to AI assistants as well. “You trust your search results. And you probably trust your AI assistant, too.” ZeroFox<\/a> says. \u201cBut what happens when both are being manipulated?\u201d<\/p>\n This is \u201ca growing threat to organizations and brands,\u201d ZeroFox warns. “Especially as people increasingly turn to LLMs for fast answers to high-stakes questions like \u201cHow do I contact customer support for [Your Brand]?\u201d<\/p>\n And this can fake any brand \u2014 however big it may be. MalwareBytes<\/a> says it found \u201ctech support scammers hijacking the results of people looking for 24\/7 support for Apple, Bank of America, Facebook, HP, Microsoft, Netflix, and PayPal.\u201d<\/p>\n An attacker can message and trick victims into placing calls to banks, having poisoned SEO results for the numbers they\u2019ll likely call. It\u2019s the same for all unsolicited support or security calls. You must stop making any calls to numbers searched online \u2014 or now via an AI assistant. Find verifiable contact details. Every time.<\/p>\n The FBI has now issued a new Dec. 8 public advisory, warning \u201cdon\u2019t let scammers ruin your holiday season. As scammers increasingly use pressure tactics and artificial intelligence to defraud Americans out of their hard-earned money, the FBI is reminding everyone to protect themselves and their families from fraud this holiday season.\u201d<\/p>\n This follows the same \u201ctake a beat\u201d messaging. “\u2019If you feel pressured to act fast, pay money, or turn over personal information\u2014take a beat. Stop and assess if what you\u2019re being told is real. Talk to your families. Protect each other from scams,\u2019 said FBI Director Kash Patel. ‘Scammers are banking on the fact that you\u2019ll feel too embarrassed to come forward and report the crime to the FBI. Don’t let them win’.”<\/p>\n The other advice is to talk to your \u201cloved ones about not sharing sensitive information with people they have met only online or over the phone. They also should not send money, gift cards, cryptocurrency, or other assets.\u201d Vulnerable citizens, especially older generations, are especially susceptible to the new wave of scams doing the rounds.<\/p>\n ForbesCISA Warns Microsoft Windows Users\u2014Log Out And Shut DownBy Zak Doffman<\/a><\/p>\n