The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has issued an urgent alert about a fast-spreading scam in which cybercriminals gain access to victims’ devices through screen-sharing features, allowing them to steal money directly from bank accounts.
Known as the “phantom hacker” scheme, the fraud begins with a phone call or message that appears to come from a legitimate bank or support service. The caller warns that the user’s account has been compromised and offers to “help” by transferring funds to a secure location. In reality, the transfer moves the victim’s money straight to the attacker’s account.
Traditionally, these scams relied on tricking users into installing remote-access software, but the FBI now reports a troubling shift. Scammers are increasingly exploiting tools already built into smartphones, specifically screen-sharing options available in widely used communication apps.
One such example involves WhatsApp, a messaging service used by over three billion people worldwide. The app recently introduced a screen-sharing feature during video calls, designed for legitimate collaboration. However, this function also allows the person on the other end of the call to see everything displayed on a user’s screen, including sensitive details such as login credentials and banking information.
Although WhatsApp notifies users to only share their screens with trusted contacts, attackers often use social engineering to bypass suspicion. The FBI notes that fraudsters frequently begin with a normal phone call before reques
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