You should never send money or provide personal information to unknown or unfamiliar people or entities. The most common types of scams will target you through fake emails, text messages, voice calls, and letters, But no matter which technique the scammer uses, you may be:
- You are contacted unexpectedly by phone, email, text, direct message, or pop-up requesting personal information or money. Never click a link or download an attachment from someone you don’t know. Your bank will never text, email or call you asking for personal or account information.
- You suspect you’re not dealing with a reliable company – for example, if there’s no postal address.
- You are pressured to act immediately with an alarming phone call, email, or text that plays with your emotions. Scammers may pose as employees from a familiar organization, such as Bank of America, and say a problem needs immediate attention. Only act if you have verified the person who has contacted you and the story or request is legitimate.
- To resolve fraud, you are asked to pay unusually, like gift cards, bitcoin, prepaid debit cards, or digital currency, including Venmo. Your bank will never ask you to transfer money to anyone, including yourself, and will never ask you to transfer money because we detected fraud in your account.
- You are asked to provide personal or account information, such as an account verification code, bank account number, or PIN. When in doubt, don’t give it out. Your bank will never text, email or call you asking for an account authorization code.
- Are you being offered a free product or a ‘get rich quick’ opportunity that seems too good to be true? If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Only cash a check for someone you know.
If you authorize a transfer or send money to a scammer, there’s often little your bank can do to help get your money back.
