The FBI says that all Americans must take these precautions in a new urgent warning
There are three major steps you can take to protect yourself.
When the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) issues a warning, you must be careful. If the agency alerts you to aDanger for public security Or a criminal threat, these warnings often have serious implications. Now the FBI wants the Americans to be aware of a new scam, which, according to the agency, has already led 244 people victims. Read the rest to find out what the FBI needs you to be aware and what precautions you should take.
Read this then:The FBI alerts all Americans to "show caution" in a new urgent warning.
The FBI was vigilant in monitoring the current scams.
Frauders are constantly developing new plans to fly to victims, often targeting older adults in different "fraud"Schemes. Former Director of FBI and Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)William Webster spoke in a public service video ad in May,warn older Americans About these financial fraud programs, which he himself was a victim.AE0FCC31AE342FD3A1346EBB1F342FCB
But the crooks do not limit their goals to the elderly because they also capitalize on the season of summer travel. On July 12, the FBI Boston division published a press release due to a recent point inRental and real estate scams, in particular as the prices of houses and rents soar. TheThe agency also spoke About a dangerousLinkedin diagram, according to CNBC reports.Sean Ragan, the special agent of the FBI in charge of offices on the field of San Francisco and Sacramento, California, told the point of sale that the crooks used the networking platform to try to encourage users to invest in cryptocurrency scams.
Now the FBI has spoken of another cryptocurrency scam, which could endanger investors in particular.
Cybercriminals have found a new way of deceiving the victims.
In a warning announcement on July 18, the FBI said that cybercriminals createdFalse cryptocurrency investment applications In order to defraud the Americans. The FBI has specifically drawn attention to financial institutions and investors, which are actively targeted. Cryptocurrency, or "crypto", is a encrypted form of digital money, and many people choose toInvest in crypto Instead of shares and obligations,Forbesreported.
"The FBI has observed cybercriminals contacting American investors, fraudulently claiming legitimate cryptocurrency investment services and convincing investors to download fraudulent mobile applications, which cybercriminals have used with growing success over time to defraud The investors of their cryptocurrency ", the" warning states.
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The Americans have already lost huge sums of money.
Financial institutions have developed mobile applications for users to monitor and increase their investments, said the FBI, but cybercriminals have noticed this trend and "seek to take advantage of it". According to the warning, fraudsters create false applications using the names and logos of legitimate applications to make the scam more convincing, even to create false websites.
The FBI has described different Russ, who all ask the victims to download a false application and file a cryptocurrency in a virtual "portfolio". However, when the victims try to withdraw funds, they are told that they must "pay taxes on their investments", but remain unable to withdraw, even after that. Another program told a victim that they had registered in a program that required a balance of $ 900,000, to whom they did not agree. By trying to cancel the subscription, crooks told the victim that they had to deposit the funds or include all the assets.
Unfortunately, many Americans have already been victims of these programs. A total of 244 victims were identified, with losses totaling approximately $ 42.7 million, said the FBI. Since the beginning of 2021, more than 46,000 Americans have reported loss of cryptocurrency that totalMore than a billion dollars, Reported Cnet.
The FBI recommends taking three major precautions.
The financial institutions have been invited to be proactive and warn customers of these scams, also making them know if they offer cryptocurrency services or a mobile application.
But you can take measures to protect yourself from this type of scam, and if you are looking to invest, the FBI asks you to proceed carefully. Be particularly attentive if someone you have not met in person asks you to download an investment application. Make sure you can check who they are before giving them personal information about yourself or taking investment advice.
In addition, check if the application in question is legitimate, according to the agency. You can do so by confirming that the company offering the application really exists "and ensuring any financial disclosure or documents is adapted to the objective of the application and the proposed financial activity".
Finally, all applications that have limited or broken features must be carefully treated. And if you are the victim of one of these scams, you must contact the FBI via the Internet crime complaints or via your local FBI field office.
