Particle.news
Download on the App Store

FBI and Amazon Warn of Holiday Account Takeover Wave, With Phone Scams the Top Risk

Reports to the FBI’s IC3 now exceed 5,100 this year, with an estimated $262 million lost.

Overview

  • Fresh FBI guidance highlights spoofed calls from fake bank or company staff and urges people to hang up, distrust caller ID, and use verified numbers.
  • Attackers steal logins and one‑time codes via texts, emails, calls, fake sites, and poisoned search ads, then reset passwords and seize accounts.
  • Stolen funds are quickly routed to criminal accounts often tied to cryptocurrency wallets, making recovery difficult once transfers go through.
  • Amazon alerted customers before Black Friday about brand impersonation lures such as fake delivery notices, look‑alike sites, and unsolicited ‘support’ calls.
  • Authorities advise immediate action: contact your bank to request a recall or reversal and a Hold Harmless/indemnity letter, change passwords, report to IC3, and enable stronger authentication such as passkeys.