Fake Bank Fraud Alert Scam

A text or call appears to come from your bank warning of suspicious activity and asks you to "verify" your account by providing your card number, PIN, or a one-time passcode — information a real bank never requests this way.

A text or spoofed phone call appears to come from the victim's real bank, warning of a suspicious charge or login attempt and asking them to "verify" their identity. The victim is directed to reply to the text, click a link to a fake bank login page, or stay on the phone with a fake "fraud department" representative, who then asks for the debit card number, PIN, or a one-time passcode the bank just sent by text — a code that, once handed over, lets the scammer complete a real transaction or password reset on the victim's actual account.

• An unsolicited text or call about a "fraud alert" asking you to confirm account details.
• A request for a one-time passcode you just received by text.
• Caller ID spoofed to display your real bank's name or number.
• Urgency to act immediately to "stop" a charge that supposedly is in progress.

• Hang up and call the number on the back of your card, never a number from the text or call itself.
• Never share a one-time passcode with anyone, even someone claiming to be your bank.
• Banks never ask for your full PIN or password over phone or text.
• Log in directly through your bank's official app or website to check for real alerts.