Bank Impersonation Scam
Is That Phone Call From Your Bank or a Scammer? Here's How to Tell.
Someone might call or text you, claiming to be from American Bank of Commerce. Your caller ID might even display the Bank’s customer service number. But here’s what to know: If the person starts asking for personal or account information, it’s a scam. No matter what.
Keep reading to learn how to spot “phone number spoofing” and avoid being scammed.
What is phone number spoofing?
Phone spoofing occurs when a scammer tricks your phone’s caller ID into displaying an official phone number, such as ABC Bank. The fraudster will call or text, pretending to be an ABC Bank employee, and attempt to trick you into disclosing personal information.
To make things even trickier, the impostor might sound convincing and use the name of a person who really works at ABC Bank. They might know some partial information you thought was private, such as your email address or the first 6-8 digits of your debit card (which are more commonly known). They may even claim they’re about to close your account, or even shut off your card due to fraud, unless you give up more information. Don’t fall for it.
To catch call spoofing, it’s essential to consider the information the caller is requesting. Remember these things:
1) Your Bank will not call and ask for personal info.
At ABC Bank, we will never call our customers unprompted and ask for personal information we already have. If you did not prompt the call, you should never share your:
- Account number
- Social security number
- Login passwords or codes
- Debit card number, PIN, or expiration date
- Any other personal information
2) Don’t trust caller ID.
Scammers can make it appear as though they’re calling from anywhere, including ABC Bank. This could be a customer service line or even your local branch telephone number. Scammers can make it look REAL!
3) Not sure? Hang up.
If you are suspicious, verify the call by hanging up and contacting ABC directly. We will never:
- Ask for your full PIN or online banking password
- Demand immediate payment or money transfers
- Threaten you with arrest or account closure
- Ask you to install software or apps to “fix” an issue
- Ask you to log on to any other site to view your account
Have you spotted a scam?
If a phone scammer calls or texts you, your report can help stop them. Contact us at [email protected] or call us at 1-888-902-2552 at and share as much information as you can, including:
- Date and time of the call/text.
- Person and department the scammer used
- What they wanted you to do, pay or share (including amounts)
- The exact number that showed up on your Caller ID.
At ABC Bank, we take these scams very seriously and want you to stay vigilant to protect your account.
