‘Hang up immediately’: FBI issues urgent warning to iPhone and Android users about one type of call that could drain your bank account

The FBI is warning iPhone and Android users to hang up right away if they get a certain type of phone call. Scammers are getting smarter, and they could empty your bank account if you’re not careful. Law enforcement agencies are trying to raise awareness about these crimes.

Phone scams are everywhere these days, especially during the holiday season. According to Unilad, criminals are using new tricks to steal your money, which is why the FBI put out this warning just as people unwrap new smartphones on Christmas.

The most common scam involves fraudsters pretending to be tech support, your bank, US Customs and Border Protection, or even your local police department. They can make their caller ID look real, which is called “spoofing,” so the call seems legitimate.

These scammers use pressure tactics to steal from you

Once you answer, the scammers try to trick you into moving money from your account or downloading harmful software onto your phone. They make everything sound urgent so you don’t have time to think clearly.

The malware they install can be nearly impossible to remove, and you might not even know it’s there. For example, experts have warned about dangerous QR codes that give scammers complete access to your phone with just one scan. They can see your credit card information, banking details, photos, and contacts.

The FBI’s advice is simple: hang up if you get an unsolicited call from someone you didn’t contact first. Even if the caller sounds trustworthy, it’s not worth the risk. iPhone users have been dealing with other technical problems lately, so staying alert about potential scams is more important than ever. The chance of these calls being real is so small that you should just end the call immediately.

Scammers might tell you that your bank account is being attacked or that you need to transfer money to avoid getting arrested. Police departments from Virginia to New York have received reports from victims who were fooled by criminals pretending to be law enforcement officers.

These scams work in different ways, but they usually follow the same pattern. The caller claims to be a police officer and tells you that there’s a warrant for your arrest. They say you missed a court date, skipped jury duty, or have an unpaid fine. Then they demand you pay right away to avoid getting arrested. Apple recently made changes to the App Store that users should be aware of as well.