The FBI and Meta have warned Americans about a billion-dollar “Phantom Hacker” scam exploiting WhatsApp’s screen-sharing feature to steal sensitive banking information.
The FBI has issued a fresh warning about a billion-dollar scam targeting Americans through a new wave of “Phantom Hacker” attacks that steal victims’ bank details by watching their screens remotely.
The scam, which originally required installing malicious software, has evolved to exploit WhatsApp’s screen-sharing feature. “We’re launching warnings when you attempt to share your screen with an unknown contact,” Meta said, adding that scammers trick victims into revealing sensitive details.
The FBI urges users to delete suspicious messages and avoid clicking any links, especially those posing as banks or support desks. Meanwhile, cybersecurity firm Palo Alto’s Unit 42 says Chinese-linked “smishing” campaigns impersonating U.S. toll and banking services are escalating.
“People should treat any unsolicited messages with suspicion,” Unit 42 warned.