Consumer Alert – Increase in “Phantom Hacker” Scams Targeting NH's Older Adults

In a “Phantom Hacker” scam, a scammer calls, texts, or e-mails a victim posing as a computer technician and falsely tells the victim that the victim’s computer or other electronic device has a virus or has been hacked. The scammer tells the victim that the victim’s financial accounts are at risk. A scammer’s accomplice will then pose as an official from either a financial or government institution and convince the victim to move money from the financial accounts that are allegedly at risk in order to “protect the funds.” Often, the scammer has the victim transfer the victim’s funds into an account the scammer promises is safe, but in reality, is controlled by the scammer. In another variation, the scammer has the victim purchase valuable items, such as gold, and sends a courier to pick up these items from the victim’s home for “safekeeping.”

 Over the last month, the Attorney General’s Elder Abuse and Financial Exploitation Unit has received several reports of older adults falling victim to the “Phantom Hacker” scam. In each of these cases, the scammers indicated that the victims’ devices either had a virus or had been hacked. The scammers then posed as government officials and convinced the victims to purchase gold in order to protect their assets. The scammers then sent couriers to the victims’ homes to pick up the gold. These incidents caused the victims substantial monetary loss.

The Attorney General reminds New Hampshire residents that financial institutions and legitimate law enforcement officials will never:

• Tell you to purchase valuable items, such as gold, and urge you to entrust those items to them for safe keeping.
• Send unsolicited communications claiming that your computer or device has been compromised.
• Call unsolicited and pressure you to purchase valuable items, pay money, or provide personal identifying information.

The Attorney General urges New Hampshire residents to be vigilant. Anyone receiving one of these calls or messages should take the following steps:

• Do not click on electronic links in messages claiming that your computer or other device has been compromised.
• Do not contact the telephone number provided in a text or e-mail communication claiming that your computer or other device has been compromised.
• If you receive an unsolicited call from someone claiming that your computer or other electronic device has been compromised, hang up immediately.
• If you are concerned about whether your computer or other device has been compromised, contact a reputable company you can verify to inspect your device.
• If you are concerned that your financial accounts have been compromised, contact your financial institution directly using a telephone number or e-mail that you have independently verified.
• Do not provide money, valuable items, or personal information to individuals whose identity you have not verified.
• Call someone you trust for an opinion about the call, e-mail, or text, you just received.
• Contact your local police department immediately, especially if you have lost money or other valuables, or made arrangements for the pick-up of money or valuables from your own home; and
• Report the scam to the Office of the Attorney General – Consumer Protection Hotline:

1-888-468-4454
E-mail: Doj-CPB@doj.nh.gov
www.doj.nh.gov/consumer/complaints

Anyone with knowledge that a vulnerable adult has been scammed or financially exploited should also contact the New Hampshire Bureau of Elderly and Adult Services, at 1-800-949-0470.