Warning signs in a bank alert
- It asks for a one-time passcode, full password, card PIN, or security answer.
- It tells you to move money “to protect it” or approve an unfamiliar payment.
- It pressures you to call a number in the message or follow an unfamiliar link.
- The wording is generic, misspelled, or does not match your bank’s normal communications.
Safe verification steps
- Do not tap the alert’s link or call its listed number.
- Open your banking app directly or type the bank’s known website yourself.
- Use the number printed on your card or shown on an official statement.
- Ask the bank whether the alert and any transaction are real.
Fictional example“Fraud team: reply with the six-digit code we just sent to keep your account open.” A bank should not need you to give a security code to an unexpected contact. Verify independently.
If you shared information
Contact the bank immediately through a trusted official number. Ask it to secure your account and review transactions. Change your online banking password if it may have been exposed, and do not reuse security codes sent to your device.
How Is This a Scam? can help
Is This a Scam? is available on the App Store and Google Play. You can choose to submit a suspicious message, link, or screenshot for an AI-assisted risk assessment, reasons, and suggested next steps. It does not replace your bank or guarantee that a message is legitimate or fraudulent.
Check Before You Trust. When money or account access is involved, contact the institution through a known official channel.