(WENY) -- New York Attorney General Letitia James is warning seniors and retirees about a growing scheme known as the “Phantom Hacker” scam, which has already cost victims more than a billion dollars nationwide since 2024.

The scam typically unfolds in three phases designed to convince victims that their savings are in jeopardy.

First, individuals receive a text, call, or email claiming their bank account has been hacked. They are then urged to call a customer support number. Once on the line, scammers instruct them to download a software program that gives remote access to their computer.

From there, a second scammer often poses as the victim’s bank, warning that their account is under attack by a foreign hacker. Victims are told to move their money to a “safe” account, sometimes throu

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