FBI Reports $262M in ATO Fraud as Researchers Cite Growing AI Phishing and Holiday Scams

The Hacker News

November 26, 2025 at 4:29 AM

Actively Exploited

Overview

The FBI has reported a significant increase in account takeover (ATO) fraud, with cybercriminals impersonating financial institutions to steal money and sensitive information. This issue poses a serious threat to individuals and organizations across various sectors, leading to losses exceeding $262 million.

Key Takeaways

Active Exploitation: This vulnerability is being actively exploited by attackers. Immediate action is recommended.
Affected Systems: Financial institutions, individuals, businesses, organizations
Action Required: Individuals and organizations should implement strong authentication measures, monitor accounts for unusual activity, and educate employees about phishing tactics.
Timeline: Ongoing since recent months

Original Article Summary

The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has warned that cybercriminals are impersonating financial institutions with an aim to steal money or sensitive information to facilitate account takeover (ATO) fraud schemes. The activity targets individuals, businesses, and organizations of varied sizes and across sectors, the agency said, adding the fraudulent schemes have led to more than $262

Impact

Financial institutions, individuals, businesses, organizations

Exploitation Status

This vulnerability is confirmed to be actively exploited by attackers in real-world attacks. Organizations should prioritize patching or implementing workarounds immediately.

Timeline

Ongoing since recent months

Remediation

Individuals and organizations should implement strong authentication measures, monitor accounts for unusual activity, and educate employees about phishing tactics.

Additional Information

This threat intelligence is aggregated from trusted cybersecurity sources. For the most up-to-date information, technical details, and official vendor guidance, please refer to the original article linked below.

Related Topics: This incident relates to Phishing.

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