The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has struggled for years to have enough air traffic controllers to address shortages, with the US Government Accountability Office (GAO) saying in January that the number of people in the job in the US has declined by around 6 percent “in the last decade.” Now the Trump administration is rolling out a recruiting campaign targeting gamers ahead of the opening of the annual air traffic control hiring window on April 17th.

Even with the campaign, getting qualified individuals through training and into the role may still be a challenge: according to the Department of Transportation’s Office of Inspector General (OIG), the FAA is facing “considerable challenges with training, including a shortage of qualified instructors, training capacity limitations, an outdated curriculum, and high training failure rates.”

An FAA video full of clips of things like Madden NFL, Fortnite, League of Legends esports, and the Xbox One stinger from commercials promises an average salary of $155,000 per year after three years and says that “you’ve been training for this.”

In a press release, the FAA says that air traffic controllers said in exit interviews that gaming was an influence on “their ability to think quickly, stay focused, and manage complexity.” The FAA’s website about the application process encourages applicants to “level up” their career. However, the Trump administration isn’t the first to target gamers for the role; according to The New York Times, the Biden administration launched a “Level Up” recruiting push in 2021, encouraging gamers as well as women and members of minority groups to become air traffic controllers.

Getting more air traffic controllers has been a focus for Sean Duffy, President Trump’s secretary of transportation, and he announced a plan to “supercharge” hiring shortly after he was sworn in for the job last year. That campaign closed in March 2025 and “attracted more than 10,000 applications,” resulting in about 600 trainees entering the Controller Training Academy, the OIG says. And the GAO says that some attrition during the air traffic controller hiring process “may be preventable,” noting that the hiring process can be “difficult to navigate” and that applicants may have already accepted other jobs by the time they get an employment offer.

The National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA), the union representing air traffic controllers, “welcomes innovative approaches to expanding the candidate pool,” including “outreach to individuals with high-level aptitude skills such as gamers,” according to a statement from NATCA president Nick Daniels.

You book a flight. You reschedule. Then you try to handle travel insurance quickly so you can move on with your day. That’s exactly what happened to Rosette. She was trying to reach Allianz, a large travel insurance company that many airlines direct customers to after booking.

Within seconds, she was talking to a scammer who sounded completely legitimate. Here’s how she described it:

“I Googled Allianz and clicked on the phone number. It was answered within 1 second. . . . It was NOT Allianz I was speaking to. They have my Citicard number and my date of birth. . . . When I questioned it, he said ‘I will not charge your card’ and disconnected.”

— Rosette

That realization hits hard. Suddenly, you start replaying everything in your head. Maybe you thought you knew what to look for. Still, the frustration sets in fast. Here’s the truth: This happens every day to smart, careful people. And the scams keep getting more convincing.

TECH GIANTS UNITE TO FIGHT ONLINE SCAMS
 

Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy Report

• Get my best tech tips, urgent security alerts and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox.
• For simple, real-world ways to spot scams early and stay protected, visit CyberGuy.com — trusted by millions who watch CyberGuy on TV daily.
• Plus, you’ll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide free when you join.

How this fake travel insurance phone scam works

This is known as a search result scam, and it is one of the fastest-growing fraud tactics right now.

Here’s the typical playbook:

• You search for a company like a travel insurance provider, airline or your bank
• A fake phone number appears at the top of the results or in an ad
• You call and reach a professional-sounding call center
• The scammer acts helpful, fast and confident
• They ask for payment details or personal information

In Rosette’s case, there were several clear signs once you step back:

• The call was answered instantly
• The pricing felt unusually high
• The email came from a fake domain
• The agent pushed for authorization

Once she questioned it, the scammer disconnected. That’s classic behavior.

Why this phone scam is so easy to fall for

This is not sloppy fraud. It’s polished, fast and designed to catch you when you are distracted. Here’s why it works so well:

1) You trust search results

Most people assume search results are safe. Scammers exploit that trust with fake listings and ads.

2) Timing creates pressure

You are often dealing with travel changes, delays or deadlines. That lowers your guard.

3) They sound legitimate

These are not obvious scammers. Many operate scripted call centers with trained agents.

4) They move fast

Answering within seconds creates the illusion that you reached the right company.

SSA IMPERSONATION SCAMS ARE GETTING MORE PERSONAL
 

What information did the scammer actually get?

In Rosette’s situation, the scammer obtained:

• Credit card number
• Date of birth

That combination matters. Even without an immediate charge, scammers often:

• Test small transactions later
• Attempt identity-based fraud
• Sell your data to other criminals

This is why you should treat it as a compromised card situation, even if nothing has been charged yet.

What this means to you

This type of scam does not rely on hacking your device. It relies on tricking you into calling the wrong number. That means anyone can fall for it.

You could be booking travel, fixing a billing issue or calling tech support. One wrong click puts you in direct contact with a scammer who already sounds like the real company.

The danger is not just the initial call. It is what happens next if your information is reused or shared.

How to protect yourself from fake phone scams

Here’s how to protect yourself from this exact scenario moving forward:

1) Never trust phone numbers from search results

Always go directly to the company’s official website and find the contact page there.

2) Use the number on your card or confirmation email

These are far more reliable than anything you find through a quick search.

3) Watch for instant answers and pressure

Real companies rarely answer instantly and push for immediate payment details. 

WHY THAT $4 CHARGE ON YOUR STATEMENT COULD BE FRAUD
 

4) Check the email domain carefully

If it does not match the official company domain, it is a red flag.

5) Replace compromised cards immediately

Do not wait for fraud to appear. Request a new card number right away.

6) Turn on real-time alerts

Enable transaction alerts so you can catch suspicious activity early. 

7) Freeze your credit if personal data is exposed

This adds a strong layer of protection against identity theft.

8) Consider identity theft protection

If your personal information was exposed, identity theft protection can monitor your identity, alert you to suspicious activity and help you respond quickly if something goes wrong. See my tips and best picks on Best Identity Theft Protection at Cyberguy.com.

9) Remove your personal data from public databases

Data broker sites collect and sell your personal details. Removing your information reduces the chances scammers can find and target you again. Check out my top picks for data removal services and get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web by visiting Cyberguy.com.

What Rosette did right

It’s important to call this, out because it matters.

• She questioned the pricing
• She challenged the caller
• She stopped before a charge went through
• She contacted her bank quickly

Those steps significantly reduced the damage. This could have gone much further.

Kurt’s key takeaways

Scams like this are not about being careless. They are about being human. You were trying to solve a problem quickly. The scammer was ready for that exact moment. The biggest takeaway is simple: Slow down when money or personal information is involved. Even a few extra seconds to verify a phone number can make all the difference. And if something feels off, trust that instinct.

If you needed to call your bank or airline right now, would you trust the first number you see online? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy Report

• Get my best tech tips, urgent security alerts and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox.
• For simple, real-world ways to spot scams early and stay protected, visit CyberGuy.com — trusted by millions who watch CyberGuy on TV daily.
• Plus, you’ll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide free when you join.

Copyright 2026 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved.

Microsoft is starting to remove “unnecessary” Copilot buttons from its Windows 11 apps. In the latest version of the Notepad app for Windows Insiders, Microsoft has removed the Copilot button in favor of a “writing tools” menu. The Copilot button in the Snipping Tool app also no longer appears when you select an area to capture.

The change is part of “reducing unnecessary Copilot entry points, starting with apps like Snipping Tool, Photos, Widgets and Notepad,” that Microsoft promised to complete as part of its broader plan to fix Windows 11. While Copilot buttons are being removed, it looks like the underlying AI features are here to stay, though.

The Copilot button has been removed from Notepad, but the writing tools replacement still uses AI-powered features and looks like the identical menu of options that existed before. I still think these features are largely unnecessary in what’s supposed to be a lightweight text app, but removing the superfluous Copilot branding is a good first step.