Breaking News: A Cybersecurity Alert That Will Make You Lock Down Your Phone!
In a shocking warning, the FBI has issued a dire alert to iPhone and Android users worldwide, cautioning against a seemingly innocuous messaging habit that could put your personal data and online security at risk. This “red flag” behavior, which we’ll be revealing in this article, is a common practice that millions of people engage in every day, unaware of the potential consequences. But the FBI is sounding the alarm, urging users to take immediate action to protect themselves from cyber threats.
Red Flags in Secure Messaging – Be Aware of These Scams
Secure messaging has never been more in the spotlight. Just a few weeks ago, the FBI told Americans to stop sending texts and use responsibly encrypted messaging instead, seeming to reverse its own campaign against such technologies. But putting aside the specifics of what it means by responsible encryption, there is one “red flag” the bureau warns you must always avoid when it comes to messaging. It’s Valentine’s Day this week, which means millions of dollars lost to fraudulent websites and even more to romance scams, which is now a billion-dollar industry. This year-round threat always intensifies in February. And now the FBI says it’s joining with partners “to help you spot the signs of online scammers before it’s too late.”
The bureau highlights three red flags you need to watch for. Two of these should be obvious — beware any romantic engagement on a dating site or social media platform where the person you’re chatting with refuses to meet in person or asks you for any form of money, gifts, investments, loans or anything similar. The third is less obvious but equally critical. If the person you’re chatting with is “rushing to move chats off dating apps to encrypted messages,” then stop and take a beat. It’s a bad idea to move this stranger chat away from the app or platform where you met to the closed doors of WhatsApp or Telegram’s secret chats or similar. Don’t take that step until you’re sure you know who you’re talking with — beyond any doubt.
The FBI’s Valentine’s Day Warning
The FBI warns that “the criminals who carry out these schemes are experts at what they do. They will seem genuine, caring, and believable. They’ll research their intended victims’ social media accounts to help develop a quick connection, so be careful what information you share online. The scammers’ intention is to establish a relationship as quickly as possible, endear themselves to their victims, and gain their trust.”
Beware of Romance Scams
And moving from the naturally guarded environment of a dating app to the same encrypted platform you use with friends and family is dangerous. Don’t mix the two — not until you’re sure.
The Hidden Danger of Secure Messaging
There is no safety net on secure platforms, no monitoring and no assurance that you’re talking to the person you think you are. While this warning comes as part of a campaign for Valentine’s Day related romance scams, it applies more broadly. Don’t rush to secure platforms with strangers, and be especially cautious when you need to give out your real cell phone number.
The Risks of Trusting Strangers
This is where Signal and Telegram offering usernames instead of phone numbers is so critical. WhatsApp is now working on something similar, which can’t come soon enough. You may not even be talking to someone in your own country. As Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) says, “Americans are more connected than ever before thanks to social media and dating apps,” warning “you may be the target of a romance scammer if the person you are communicating with online claims they live, work or are traveling abroad. [or] lacks proper grammar, although they claim to speak English.” ICE adds to the list of red flags: a person claiming to be notably younger than you, a person who quickly professes to be in love with you, and again “requests to have conversations/texts moved to a separate app (e.g., WhatsApp, Telegram).”
Stay Safe with the FBI’s Advice
The FBI’s advice for those of you online dating is simple, common sense. But all too often with romance scams, common sense gives way frighteningly quickly, and then there’s reluctance to even report the crime. As the bureau says:
Common Sense in Online Dating
- If you develop a romantic relationship with someone you meet online:
- Think twice before you share personal information online. Scammers can use details shared on dating sites and social media platforms to better target victims.
- If you try online dating, only use dating sites with well-known reputations.
Don’t Mix Personal and Secure Chats
Don’t mix your personal and secure chats. Keep them separate until you’re sure you know the person. Don’t mix the two, even if they’re on the same platform.
Be Cautious with Phone Numbers
Be cautious about giving out your phone number. And don’t call back phone numbers from unsolicited calls, text messages, or emails. Type the agency name into a search bar and click on their website to verify. The FBI reports that victims lose over a billion dollars per year to tech support and related scams.
The Phantom Hacker Threat
This spoofed call threat is expanding rapidly, and has maybe reached peak-2025 already, with a hacking-savvy engineer almost caught out by an attack spoofing Google’s support numbers, which he described as “the most sophisticated phishing attack I’ve ever seen.” It should serve as a clear warning that you can’t believe what you see and need to stick to basic advice. And on that note there’s a common theme. Google has confirmed it won’t proactively call users to troubleshoot technical issues, per this latest AI attack; and in the highest profile recent Phantom Hacker attack, the bank involved told its account holders to “remember that Bank of America will never contact you to request that you move money to protect yourself from fraud.”
Spoofed Calls and Phishing Attacks
Microsoft has just revealed a new update for Windows users that uses its own AI to hit this threat head-on, intercepting such “scareware” attacks targeting PCs with fraudulent support calls. “The FBI reports that victims lose over a billion dollars per year to tech support and related scams,” Microsoft warned in its post, linking to the bureau’s advisory on how to stay safe. The FBI’s warning could not be clearer: “Legitimate customer, security, or tech support companies will not initiate unsolicited contact with individuals.” There are no exceptions. None.
The AI-Fueled Cyber Attacks
With a wry irony, even law enforcement is not immune from becoming embroiled in such scams. If you needed a perfect illustration as to how close to the mark these call scams have now become, look no further than U.S. CBP warning that its “employees are continuing to receive numerous calls from people concerned about unsolicited calls from scammers posing as U.S. Border Patrol agents and U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers.” And we’ve just seen echoes of the same, with convictions for fraudsters whose scam calls pretended to be police officers, tricking elderly victims into parting with cash and jewelry as part of an investigation. This scam worked by asking victims to call back by dialing 999 — the U.K equivalent of 911. But the fraudsters would stay on the line, which would not disconnect, and would then handle the emergency call themselves. Just as with banks and tech support, CBP says it “won’t call you out of the blue with promises of money or threats. Is the caller asking you to pay a fee or share your Social Security, credit card, or bank account numbers over the phone? Hang up. It’s a scam.” The agency also warns “don’t trust caller ID; scammers can make their phone numbers look real even if they’re not.”
Practical Advice for Staying Safe
The FBI’s warning is clear: “Legitimate customer, security, or tech support companies will not initiate unsolicited contact with individuals.” There are no exceptions. None. Here’s what you can do to stay safe:
Verify Caller IDs
Don’t trust caller IDs or voicemails. Type the agency name into a search bar and click on their website to verify.
Never Share Personal Info
Be cautious of requests for money, gifts, or personal info online. Think twice before sharing personal info. Never give out sensitive information over the phone unless you initiated the call and are absolutely sure you’re speaking to a legitimate representative.
Stay Informed
Stay up-to-date with the latest scams and threats. Follow reputable sources like Gizmoposts24 and take precautions to stay safe online.
Conclusion
safe
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