Montanans, Be Aware: FBI Warns of Sophisticated Phishing Scam

If you’re a Montana resident and your phone buzzes with a text or voice message that seems to be from a high-ranking U.S. official, think twice before responding.

The FBI has issued a public warning about a growing phishing scheme that’s not just high-tech, but chillingly personal. Since April, scammers have been using AI-generated voices and messages that appear to be from senior U.S. officials to lure in victims.

Who’s Being Targeted?

While most of the victims so far are current or former senior federal or state government officials, or people connected to them, the FBI warns that this kind of scheme could reach anyone. Scammers thrive on social connections, and if they can get into the contact list of one official or associate, it opens the door to others. That could include you or someone you know, especially in smaller, tight-knit communities like we have here in Montana.

Smishing and Vishing: What They Are and Why They Matter

The scammers are using two sneaky techniques: smishing and vishing. Smishing involves text messages that try to trick you into clicking a link or providing personal information. Vishing, on the other hand, uses phone calls or voice messages, often powered by AI to sound eerily real, to build trust and extract data.

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These aren’t your run-of-the-mill scam calls. They’re personalized, often referencing accurate details about your background, work, or connections. That’s what makes them so dangerous.

How They Reel You In

The fraudsters’ goal? To get you to click on a malicious link or switch to a less secure messaging platform, where they can manipulate you further. Once they’ve established some rapport, they may ask for login credentials, access to official accounts, or even money.

Worse yet, if they get into one person’s account, they can impersonate that person to target others, like a domino effect of deception.

Don’t Let Them In: What You Can Do

The FBI is crystal clear on this: “If you receive a message claiming to be from a senior U.S. official, do not assume it is authentic.” Even if the voice sounds real or the message seems urgent, take a breath and verify the source through official channels.

Remember, legitimate officials aren’t going to ask you to move the conversation to a different app or request personal info via text or a random call.