Cyber Attacks Soar: Protect Yourself from the "Phantom Hacker" and Other Evolving Scams

Right, let’s get straight into it. It’s Friday, September 19th, 2025, and if you thought hackers were taking a coffee break this week, let me be the first to burst that bubble. I’m Scotty, and internet scams right now are evolving faster than your grandma's Facebook password.

Let’s kick off with a headline the FBI is practically shouting from rooftops: the “Phantom Hacker” scam. Over a billion dollars snatched since last year, mostly from seniors. Listen up, because this is diabolically multi-layered. First, you get a pop-up saying “Call tech support – your computer is infected!” Next, the conversation shifts to a fake bank rep claiming your accounts are compromised, so hurry and move your cash. The climax? A bogus government official calls, telling you to stay hush-hush and keep following their sketchy instructions. Sharon Blatt Cohen from Guardio says these crooks will take remote control of your machine, then frighten you into transferring your life savings into their “safe account”—which, shocker, is just a black hole for your money. If anyone ever pressures you to move money, pause, hang up, and verify with an official channel. Always talk about scams with your family, and never be shy about sharing. If something feels off, report it, don’t stew in silence.

Speaking of stepping out from behind the screen, Xinhua Chen, a 31-year-old from China, is in a Beaver County jail after scamming normal folks—including an Aliquippa woman—out of hundreds of thousands. Chen didn’t just ask for gift cards or crypto; he showed up at his victim’s door to collect cash, pretending to be a federal agent. That’s criminal cosplay at the next level. Chief Greg Carney of New Sewickley Police says no law enforcement will EVER arrive at your house to collect cash for tech support. Ever. If it happens, call the real police immediately.

The scams aren’t just about money. In New York, a middle school student at Fieldstone was arrested for running a massive sextortion ring, posing as a girl on social media and luring male classmates to send explicit images, later demanding money under threat of exposure. Det. Andrew Kryger calls the sheer scale “unusual and troubling.” Police think hundreds may be impacted—this isn’t just a local issue; it’s global. If you or your kids get hit up online for inappropriate content, report it. Sextortion is an epidemic—don’t wait for it to blow up.

If you’ve ever received a robocall offering 50% off Spectrum or Comcast and pushing you to prepay via gift card, that’s a current FCC red alert. Do not call back, definitely don’t pay. All gift card payment demands are pure scam fodder.

Finally, with AI and deepfakes everywhere, bad guys use synthetic voices and video to impersonate everyone—bosses, family, you name it—usually leveraging hope, urgency, and fear. Employees and seniors are losing millions because these scams sound and look utterly real.

So, rapid-fire tips before we wrap: trust nothing unsolicited, never give anyone remote access unless you confirm the company and person independently, and NEVER send money or data before double checking. Be skeptical, stay updated on scam trends, keep personal data locked down, and talk openly with family—they’re your best firewall.

Thanks for tuning in! Subscribe so you’ll never get phished by a poser—this has been a quiet please production. For more, check out quiet please dot ai.

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This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI