Security News > 2023 > July > FBI: Tech support scams now use shipping companies to collect cash
FBI warns of a surge in tech support scams targeting the elderly across the United States and urging victims to dispatch cash concealed within magazines or similar items through shipping firms.
While tech support scams have been around for years, the FBI says this is a departure from scammers' conventional tactics of soliciting their targets to send money using bank transfers, cryptocurrencies, or gift cards.
"The FBI is warning the public of a recent nationwide uptick in technical support scams targeting older adults, where scammers instruct victims to send cash, wrapped in a magazine(s), via shipping companies," the FBI cautioned in a public service announcement issued through the Internet Crime Complaint Center.
Victims are instructed to send the surplus money via shipping companies concealed within magazines or similar items to meet scammers' demands.
"Most recently, scammers have instructed victims to ship packages containing money to pharmacies and retail businesses that are equipped to receive shipping company packages," the FBI added.
In November, the law enforcement agency also warned that tech support scammers were impersonating financial institutions' refund payment portals and tricking victims by taking advantage of the added legitimacy.