Is your bank really calling? How to spot a bank scam before you lose money
Scammers pose as your bank on the phone, sometimes using AI-generated voices that sound like real bank staff. They try to pressure you into moving money to a "safe" account.
How it works
A caller claims to be from your bank and says there is a suspicious charge or a threat to your account. The voice may be a computer-generated copy that sounds like a real representative. The caller urges you to act fast and move your money to protect it, or to keep the call secret. Once you transfer funds, the money goes to the scammer.
Red flags to watch for
- Caller says your account is at risk and you must act now
- You are told to move money to a new or "protected" account
- Caller asks you to keep the call or transfer secret
- Voice sounds real but the request is unusual or urgent
- Caller asks for passwords, codes, or full account numbers
What to do
Do not move money, share codes, or stay on the line because a caller told you to. Hang up, then call your bank using the number printed on your card or statement, not one the caller gives you. Ask the bank whether it actually made the call and whether anything is wrong with your account. If you sent money, contact your bank right away and report it to reportfraud.ftc.gov.
If this reached you
Source: KOAA NBC5 Colorado Springs . Scam Sentinel summarizes this news report in plain language; it is a decision aid, not a guarantee.