FBI Warns "Phantom Hacker" Could Drain North Dakota Bank Accounts

Regularly checking your bank account for mistakes and/or unusual activity is a smart idea. That is more true than ever since, according to an FBI advisory, there is a new fraud going on in which a hacker might be taking money directly out of your Missouri bank account.

Have you heard about the widespread problem with big banks experiencing delays in their deposits?

According to CNBC, the impacted banks include "Bank of America, Chase, Truist, U.S. Bank, and Wells Fargo". Since this is the statement that appears at the top of the US Bank website as of right now, I can vouch for it.

Infographic, US Bank

I cannot confirm, but find it suspicious that this issue coincides with an alert from the FBI warning of a 'Phantom Hacker' draining bank accounts in North Dakota and many other states. Here's how the scam works according to their bulletin:

A scammer contacts you as a customer support representative from a tech company claiming your bank account has been compromised
They give you a 'tech support' phone number to call for help
If you call that number, they provide a download link for 'remote assistance' where they will pretend to run a virus scan which will show fake compromises on your system
They then offer to 'check your bank account for unauthorized charges'. They tell you a bank representative will contact you.
That fake bank account representative will tell you to move your money to a different account in micro-transactions over a period of days and tell you to not alert anyone to what you're doing

Get our free mobile app

If you follow the scammers' instructions and provide them your 'new' bank account number, your account will be emptied. This memo was added by the FBI regarding how individuals are in complete shock:

Victims often suffer the loss of entire banking, savings, retirement, and investment accounts under the guise of “protecting” their assets.

Additionally, the FBI advised against ever downloading unknown software onto your computer or clicking on unsolicited pop-up messages. If you have questions concerning your account, call the bank at the number you were given by them; never use one that you were given by a third party.

6 Of The Most Common Scams Affecting Montanans

Thanks to the Montana Department of Revenue we know these 6 scams are what Montana residents will have to deal with most commonly. Knowing these scams will help protect you and your identity.

Gallery Credit: Nick Northern