FBI Warning: Tech Support Scams Now Involve Couriers

Today, the FBI issued a public service announcement alerting the public to a concerning trend in tech support and government impersonation scams involving the use of courier services.

The FBI has observed a surge in reports regarding criminals utilizing couriers to collect cash and valuable items from victims, particularly senior citizens. Scammers instruct victims to liquidate assets into cash or buy precious metals like gold or silver under the guise of protecting their funds.

"The FBI is warning the public about scammers instructing victims, many of whom are senior citizens, to liquidate their assets into cash and/or buy gold, silver, or other precious metals to protect their funds," the FBI stated.

"Criminals then arrange for couriers to meet the victims in person to pick up the cash or precious metals."

These scammers adopt various personas, impersonating tech support workers, U.S. government officials, employees of technology companies, or financial institutions. They create a complex scheme by claiming that the targets' financial accounts are compromised, leading victims to liquidate assets for protection.

Victims are coerced into converting assets into cash or precious metals, sometimes wiring funds to metal dealers who ship the purchased metals directly to victims' residences. Couriers are then dispatched to retrieve the money or valuables, often providing victims with a passcode to authenticate the transaction, further legitimizing the fraud.

To protect against such fraud, the FBI advises against sending precious metals to legitimate businesses or U.S. government organizations. At-risk individuals should avoid sharing home addresses or meeting strangers to send cash and valuables following phone requests.

Tips to Reduce the Risk of Falling Victim:

• Do not click on unsolicited pop-ups, links in text messages, or email attachments.
• Avoid contacting unknown telephone numbers from pop-ups, texts, or emails.
• Do not download software at the request of unknown individuals.
• Do not allow unknown individuals access to your computer.

Victims of such scams are urged to report the scammers to the FBI immediately, providing as much information as possible, including names, communication methods, bank account details, and the names of metal dealers involved.

In October, the FBI had warned about a surge in "phantom hacker" scams impacting the elderly, resulting in estimated victim losses exceeding $542 million between January and June 2023.

One year prior, the FBI cautioned about scammers impersonating financial institutions' refund payment portals to trick victims, particularly older individuals, leveraging the credibility of these organizations.