Scam teardown

The "phantom hacker" scam

By Lajhem Cambridge, Founder of Lorna · Published Oct 24, 2026

It starts with a pop-up, then a call from "your bank," then a letter from "the government." Each one makes the last one seem real. Here are the three signs to look for.

Has a message like this appeared on your screen?

It looks like help. It's the first of three fake helpers, and each one hands you to the next.

1. 1

   Tech support you didn't ask for. A pop-up, text or email tells you to call a number. The person who answers asks you to download a program so they can "scan" your computer, then asks you to open your bank accounts to check them. Now they know where your money is.

2. 2

   A call from your bank that someone promised you. "Tech support" says your bank will call you. Then a caller says a hacker is in your accounts and you need to move your money to a "safe" account. They tell you to keep the reason a secret.

3. 3

   "The government" backs up the story. Someone says they're from the Federal Reserve or another agency. If you have doubts, an official-looking letter or email shows up. The U.S. government will never ask you to wire money to a foreign account, or to pay with cryptocurrency or gift cards.