The FBI has issued a warning about a surge in tech support scams targeting elderly individuals in the United States. Scammers are now using shipping companies to collect cash from their victims, a departure from their previous tactics of soliciting money through bank transfers, cryptocurrencies, or gift cards. The scammers pose as legitimate company representatives and contact their targets via phone calls, texts, emails, or misleading pop-up windows. They convince their victims to download remote access software, allowing them to gain control over their computers. The scammers then deposit larger sums of money than intended into the victims’ bank accounts and request the victims to send back the extra cash. To meet the scammers’ demands, victims are instructed to send the surplus money via shipping companies concealed within magazines or similar items. The FBI advises elderly individuals to protect themselves by not downloading software or granting control of their computers to unknown individuals, and to never send cash via mail or shipping companies. Victims are encouraged to report these scams to the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) by providing details of the scam and the recipient’s name and address where the money was shipped.
| Signal | Change | 10y horizon | Driving force |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tech support scams using shipping companies | Change in scam tactics | Scammers may continue to adapt tactics for deception | Desire for anonymity and increased difficulty in tracking scammers |
| Shift from bank transfers, cryptocurrencies, gift cards | Change in payment methods | Scammers may use more unconventional payment methods | Desire to avoid detection and increase success rates |
| Elderly targeted through phone calls, texts, emails | Targeting vulnerable population | Increased awareness and protection for vulnerable groups | Desire to exploit trust and lack of tech knowledge |
| Scammers gain control over victims’ computers | Increased use of remote access software | Improved cybersecurity measures and awareness | Desire for financial gain and control |
| Victims instructed to send cash via shipping | Change in money transfer method | Increased security measures for shipping companies | Desire to avoid detection and increase success rates |
| Scammers impersonate financial institutions | Impersonation tactics | Improved authentication methods and security measures | Desire to appear legitimate and gain trust |