FBI warns of phantom hacker scam as Chicago woman loses $20,000

A Chicago hair stylist lost $20,000 in a scam known as the "phantom hacker." She received a call from someone claiming to be from Bank of America, warning her of suspicious activity and urging her to wire money to protect her account. The FBI reports that this scam is becoming more common, with scammers impersonating bank representatives. Victims are misled into believing their accounts are compromised and are pressured to transfer funds quickly, which ultimately benefits the scammers. Bank of America stated it will never ask clients to send money through wire transfers or Zelle. The bank attempts to recover funds in such cases, but there is no guarantee of success.