Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images Moneywise and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue through links in the content below. A phone call can look official and still put your money in danger. The FBI has issued (1) a warning about an “insidious” new twist on a longstanding scam — one that makes it “extremely difficult”
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A phone call can look official and still put your money in danger.
The FBI has issued (1) a warning about an “insidious” new twist on a longstanding scam — one that makes it “extremely difficult” for potential victims to determine whether they’re being targeted.
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For anyone with a phone, the takeaway is unsettling: the details that make a caller seem trustworthy may be part of the trap.
Real name. Official-looking number. Fake caller.
Victims in New Jersey have reported scammers impersonating FBI, DEA and Secret Service agents to steal their money.
The criminals disguise their calls with agency phone numbers and introduce themselves using real agents’ names.
That means checking the name can create false reassurance: you can call an agency and they may confirm that the employee exists, even though that person isn’t the caller.
The distinction matters. Confirming someone’s employment doesn’t authenticate the person on the other end of your phone.
One fraudster even staged a video call with a desk, FBI seal and suited man to resemble an FBI office.
The FBI’s suggestion is straightforward: “Never send money to anyone claiming to be a federal law enforcement agent.”
The FBI also recommends looking up the agency’s official phone number yourself and calling to verify. Explain that you suspect a scam and ask whether a real agent is contacting you. If the local office is unreachable, try headquarters.
Suspicious video calls can be photographed or recorded and reported at tips.fbi.gov (2). You can also call 1-800-CALL-FBI.
But protecting yourself starts before an unexpected call arrives — with greater control over your personal information and a clearer view of where your money is going.
Give scammers less of your personal information
The FBI’s warning shows how convincing a scam can become when criminals borrow details that check out. That’s also a reason to think about what they could find out about you.
Your name, phone number and home address may already be available online. In the wrong hands, those details could help someone make an unexpected call feel more personal — and believable.
You can be careful about what you share and still have information exposed through public listings or a data breach. Taking steps to reduce that exposure adds another layer of protection before your phone ever rings.
If you want some added peace of mind, platforms like Aura offer a way to safeguard your personal information.
The AI-powered service removes your personal data from Google search results, people-search sites and brokers that sell your data to advertisers. Aura can even scan the dark web and data breach sources for your credentials and alert you to any leaks of your data.
Aura also monitors spending patterns so you always know when a suspicious transaction pops up and if identity theft does happen, their $1 million insurance protection covers eligible losses and fees.
You could save up to 68% if you sign up today — and Aura even offers a risk-free, 60-day money-back guarantee.
Keep a close eye on every dollar
Protecting your personal information is one line of defense. Keeping a close eye on your accounts can help you spot signs that someone may be misusing it.
A quick daily check-in can help you catch unfamiliar charges and see where your money is going. But when your spending is spread across several accounts, having everything in one place can make that habit easier.
An app like Rocket Money can easily flag recurring subscriptions, upcoming bills and unusual charges by pulling in transactions from all your linked accounts.
This can help you cut unnecessary costs and then you can manually redirect savings straight into your retirement fund. No spreadsheets, no guesswork, no stress. Small habits like this can make a big difference over time.
Rocket Money’s intuitive app offers a variety of free and premium tools. Free features include subscription tracking, bill reminders and budgeting basics, while premium features — like automated savings, net worth tracking, customizable dashboards and more — make it easier to stay on top of your retirement contributions and overall financial goals.
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