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Bank scams

What your bank will never ask you.

Scammers pretend to be your bank more than almost anyone. Here’s how to tell, and what to do if it’s happened.

A real bank will never

If anyone asks you to do one of these, it’s a scam. Hang up and call your bank on the number on your card.

Bank or scammer? Can you tell?

6 of these are scams doing the rounds. 4 are real. Tap Real or Scam on each one.

Text

BBank Alert

We’ve stopped a large payment on your card. If this wasn’t you, call our fraud team now on number to protect your account.

Made up example. Links and numbers hidden.

Bank or scammer?

Fake fraud alert text

The giveaway
The rush to call a number in the text. Scammers want you to ring them, not the number on your card.
What to do
Don’t call or reply. Check your banking app, or call the number on the back of your card.
Source: FTC: Top text scams of 2024

Text

YYour Bank

We’ve noticed an unusual payment of $1,240.00 on your card. Please check it in your banking app. We’ll never ask for your password or a code.

Made up example. Links and numbers hidden.

Bank or scammer?

A real payment check

How you can tell
No link and no number to call. It sends you to your own banking app, and says what it will never ask for.
What to do
Open your banking app yourself and check the payment. Still not sure? Call the number on your card.
Source: NAB: ending links in text messages (July 2023)

Call

Incoming call

Your Bank

mobile

“This is the fraud team at your bank. Someone is trying to empty your account. To keep your money safe, we need you to move it to a new account now.”

Made up example. Links and numbers hidden.

Bank or scammer?

‘Safe account’ call

The giveaway
No real bank ever asks you to move money to keep it safe. Your money is safe where it is.
What to do
Hang up, even if the number looks right. Call your bank on the number on your card.
Source: Take Five (UK Finance): Impersonation scams

Call

Incoming call

No caller ID

“Hi, it’s your bank’s security team. We’ve stopped a suspicious payment. To cancel it, just read me the code we’ve sent to your phone.”

Made up example. Links and numbers hidden.

Bank or scammer?

‘Read me the code’ call

The giveaway
They want the code sent to your phone. It lets them into your account. Banks never ask for it.
What to do
Never read out a code. Hang up and call your bank on the number on your card.
Source: Scamwatch: Scammers impersonating banks in texts, calls and emails

Call

Incoming call

Your Bank

mobile

“Hi, it’s the fraud team at your bank. We’ve stopped a payment on your card. Please hang up and call us back on the number on the back of your card.”

Made up example. Links and numbers hidden.

Bank or scammer?

A real fraud team call

How you can tell
They want you to hang up and call back on a number you trust. A scammer wants to keep you on the line.
What to do
Hang up, then call the number on the back of your card. On a landline, wait a minute or use another phone first.
Source: Take Five (UK Finance): Impersonation scams

Email

Action needed: confirm your details

OOnline Banking

Your online banking will be suspended in 24 hours unless you confirm your details. Log in here to keep your account open: link

Made up example. Links and numbers hidden.

Bank or scammer?

Fake ‘log in now’ email

The giveaway
A scary deadline and a link to log in. Banks don’t email you links to log in. The site is fake.
What to do
Don’t click. Open your bank’s app, or type its web address yourself, and check there.
Source: American Bankers Association: Banks Never Ask That

Email

Your statement is ready

YYour Bank

Your monthly statement is ready to view. Log in to your banking app or our website the way you usually do. There’s nothing else you need to do.

Made up example. Links and numbers hidden.

Bank or scammer?

A real statement email

How you can tell
No link, no deadline and nothing to pay or confirm. It just tells you to log in the way you always do.
What to do
Nothing, unless you want to read it. Open your app or type the bank’s address yourself.
Source: American Bankers Association: Banks Never Ask That

Call

Incoming call

Unknown number

“Hackers have got into your bank account. I can remove them, but I need to connect to your phone. Please download this app and read me the number.”

Made up example. Links and numbers hidden.

Bank or scammer?

‘Download this app’ call

The giveaway
They want you to install an app so they can see your screen. Banks never ask for that.
What to do
Hang up and don’t install anything. If you already did, turn off the internet and call your bank.
Source: CommBank: Remote access scams

Call

Incoming call

Private number

“This is your bank’s fraud team. Your card has been copied. We’re sending a courier to collect it. Pop it in an envelope with your PIN inside.”

Made up example. Links and numbers hidden.

Bank or scammer?

Courier card collection

The giveaway
Banks never send anyone to collect your card, PIN or cash. Not a courier, not the police.
What to do
Don’t hand anything over. Hang up, then call your bank on the number on your card.
Source: Take Five (UK Finance): Courier fraud

Text

YYour Bank

You’ve just signed in to your banking on a new phone. If this was you, there’s nothing to do. If it wasn’t, call us on the number on the back of your card.

Made up example. Links and numbers hidden.

Bank or scammer?

A real new device alert

How you can tell
It asks for nothing. If it wasn’t you, it points you to the number on your card, not a number or link in the text.
What to do
If it was you, ignore it. If it wasn’t, call the number on your card straight away.
Source: CommBank: Security

Is it really your bank? Check like this

  1. Don’t reply, tap a link or call a number in the message. If it’s a call, hang up.
  2. Find your bank’s real number yourself, on the back of your card or a statement.
  3. Call that number and ask if it was really them. A real bank won’t mind you checking.
  4. Still not sure? Talk to someone you trust before you share anything or move money.

Think you’ve been scammed? Do this now

  1. Call your bank straight away on the number on your card. Tell them you’ve been scammed.
  2. Ask them to stop any payments and to block your cards.
  3. Change your online banking password, and any password the scammer may know.
  4. If they got onto your phone or computer, turn off its internet and get it checked.
  5. Report it, then be wary of anyone who offers to get your money back. It’s often a scam.

Report it

Questions people ask

Will my bank ever text me a link?

Rarely. Most banks say they’ll never text you a link to log in or check your details. If a text has one, don’t tap it. Use your bank’s app instead.

How can I tell if a call from my bank is real?

Banks do call about odd payments, but scammers can fake the number on your screen. Hang up and call the number on your card. A real bank won’t mind.

Will my bank ask for a code it sent me?

No. A real bank won’t call or text you out of the blue to ask for a code it sent. If someone does, hang up. It’s a scam, even if they know your details.

Will my bank ask me to move money to a ‘safe account’?

Never. No real bank will ask you to move money to keep it safe, even into an account in your name. Anyone who asks is a scammer.

What if I already gave a scammer my details?

Call your bank straight away on the number on your card. The sooner they know, the more they can do to stop payments. Then report it.

Practise on the fakes.

Fake bank calls are in HOAX. Fake bank texts and emails are in LURE. Free, and fun.

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Where this comes from (40 sources)