How-to guide
Bank impersonation scams
Bank impersonation is one of the most effective scams because it uses your own fear of fraud against you. A text or call about "suspicious activity" pushes you to act fast — straight into the scammer's hands.
How it works
- A text asks "Did you make this $X charge? Reply Y/N" — replying connects you to a fake agent.
- A caller spoofs your bank's number and says your account is under attack.
- They tell you to "move money to a safe account", read a code, or share your login to "secure" it.
How to verify safely
Hang up and call the number on the back of your card. Your bank will never ask you to move money to a "safe account", read out a one-time code, or share your password or full PIN. Those requests are always a scam.
Frequently asked questions
Will my bank ask me to move money to a safe account?
Never. That instruction is always a scam. Banks do not ask you to transfer money to "protect" it, share one-time codes, or reveal your full password or PIN.
How do I know if a bank text is real?
Don't use the links or numbers in the message. Call the number on your card and verify, or paste the text into Scam Doctor.