FBI Warns of AI-powered Scam Impersonating Agents

The FBI is warning residents across western North Carolina to be on guard against a sophisticated scam in which criminals pose as FBI agents and representatives of the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), using artificial intelligence, fake websites and social media accounts to steal even more money from people who have already been victims of fraud.

The warning is especially relevant for Rutherford, McDowell, Polk and surrounding counties, where scammers frequently target older adults and residents recovering from financial losses through online investment, romance and cryptocurrency scams.

According to the FBI, the criminals are exploiting victims a second time through what's known as a "recovery scam." They falsely claim they have located stolen money or can help recover it, but instead use the opportunity to collect additional personal and financial information or convince victims to send more money.

The bureau says the scams have become increasingly convincing through the use of AI-generated videos, voice cloning and fake websites that closely resemble official government pages.

How the scam works

The FBI says victims may receive a phone call, email, Facebook message or see a social media advertisement claiming someone has recovered their lost funds.

In one version of the scam, victims who previously reported fraud are contacted by someone claiming to be an FBI agent through Facebook Messenger or the Telegram app. The impersonator provides a link that supposedly allows the victim to update an IC3 complaint.

Instead, the link either installs malicious software or directs victims to a fake website designed to collect personal information.

In another variation, scammers create AI-generated videos featuring what appears to be senior FBI officials encouraging people to file complaints through a counterfeit IC3 website.

The fake site closely resembles the legitimate government website but only asks for basic personal information, including a victim's name, phone number, email address, type of scam and estimated financial losses. After the information is submitted, victims receive a fake reference number and are told someone will contact them.

The FBI says the entire process is designed to identify people who have already been defrauded and make them targets again.

FBI: IC3 is not on social media

The bureau said in a statement that the Internet Crime Complaint Center does not maintain Facebook, Telegram or other social media accounts.

The FBI also says IC3 employees will never contact people through social media, text messages, online chat, email or phone calls to recover stolen money.

Officials stress that IC3 never charges fees to recover funds and never directs victims to companies requesting payment for recovery services.

Anyone claiming otherwise is a scammer.

How to protect yourself

The FBI recommends several steps to avoid becoming a victim:

Type ic3.gov directly into your browser instead of clicking search engine results or advertisements.

Verify that every government website ends in ".gov."

Avoid clicking links sent through emails, text messages or social media.

Never send money, gift cards or cryptocurrency to someone promising to recover previous losses.

Be skeptical of videos or voice messages that appear to feature government officials, as AI technology can convincingly imitate real people.

Examine emails, phone numbers and website addresses carefully for slight misspellings or unusual characters.

The bureau also advises residents to be cautious of online content designed to provoke fear or urgency and to verify surprising claims through trusted news organizations or official government sources before responding.

Local reminder

Law enforcement agencies in western North Carolina continue to encourage residents—particularly older adults—to discuss suspicious calls or online messages with trusted family members before sending money or providing personal information.

Residents who believe they have been targeted should document what they experience by taking screenshots, recording conversations, preserving emails, text messages, website addresses, and financial records that may assist investigators.

Anyone who believes they have been victimized should file a complaint directly through the official IC3 website at ic3.gov. Victims age 60 and older can also receive assistance through the U.S. Department of Justice Elder Justice Hotline at 833-372-8311.

The FBI says reporting scams quickly can help investigators identify emerging fraud trends and may prevent additional victims.