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Several Arizona residents lost their entire savings to a phantom hacker scam that begins with a fake error message claiming computer compromise, followed by fake customer service representatives gaining remote access and then coordinating with fake bank officials to convince victims to transfer funds to cryptocurrency ATMs. The FBI recommends avoiding unknown calls, educating family members, and immediately reporting suspicious online interactions to ic3.gov.

The FBI Phoenix office has warned Arizona residents about the "Phantom Hacker" scam, in which victims are manipulated into draining their bank accounts and depositing cash into Bitcoin ATMs, resulting in permanent loss of funds. Scammers use sophisticated tactics, including impersonating trusted companies like Microsoft and keeping victims on the phone for extended periods to build trust. Local law enforcement has limited ability to recover the stolen money or apprehend the criminals responsible for this scheme targeting vulnerable people.