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AI can make a scam message sound polished or a caller sound like someone you trust. That does not make the contact genuine. Never give an unsolicited caller or message your password or one-time code, and never move money to a so-called “safe” account. Verify the claim by contacting your bank through a number or website you already know is official.
Why AI-powered bank scams can be hard to spot
Scammers may use AI-generated text, voice clips, or video to impersonate bank staff, support workers, relatives, or other trusted people. The FBI says criminals have used AI-generated audio clips to impersonate individuals and seek access to bank accounts. Fluent writing, familiar voices, and convincing caller ID are not proof of identity.
Account takeovers can begin with reused or weak passwords, phishing emails and lookalike websites, malware, or a person pretending to be bank support. A fake search advertisement can also send you to a convincing imitation of a bank login page. If you enter your credentials there, a criminal may use them to access the real account, change its security details, or move funds. A stolen one-time code may help the criminal pass an account check.
Multifactor authentication (MFA) adds a layer of protection when you use it on your bank’s legitimate site or app. It cannot protect information that you enter into a phishing page or disclose to an impostor.
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How to verify an unexpected bank alert
- Pause; do not use the contact’s instructions to verify them. Do not click a link, reply, call a number in the message, or share a password or one-time code. Treat caller ID as unverified.
- Contact the bank independently. Use the number on your bank statement or other official material you already have, or open a saved bookmark for the bank’s site. Do not use a number supplied by the caller, a link in the message, or a search advertisement.
- Ask the bank whether the alert is real. Describe what you received and ask whether action is needed. If the contact claimed a transaction is fraudulent, ask the bank to check your account through its official channel.
- Keep control of your money and account. Do not transfer funds to another account to “protect” them, install software at a caller’s direction, or disclose a verification code. End the call if the person pressures you, then call the bank yourself.
The CFPB advises consumers to treat unexpected requests for account information by email or text as suspicious. If you receive one, do not click or reply; contact your institution using independently obtained contact information. A message can be written in your bank’s style and still be fraudulent.
Protect your bank login and monitor activity
- Use a unique, strong password. Do not reuse your online-banking password on email, shopping, or other accounts. If a password is exposed elsewhere, reuse can give a criminal another route into your finances.
- Turn on the MFA your bank offers. Keep it enabled and review the bank’s current options and recovery process. Availability and supported methods vary by institution; do not assume a particular device or method works with every bank.
- Go directly to the bank’s site or app. Save the official login page as a bookmark or favorite and use it instead of search results. Check the web address before entering credentials.
- Review transactions and deposits regularly. Look for unfamiliar transfers, purchases, or missing expected deposits, and contact the bank promptly about anything you do not recognize.
- Limit information that helps someone impersonate you. Avoid posting personal details publicly that could help someone guess security answers or make a false emergency story more convincing.
Verify urgent requests from someone you know
A cloned or familiar-sounding voice is not enough to prove that a relative is calling. If someone asks urgently for money or sensitive information, end the conversation and call them back at a number you already know. You can also verify through another trusted person. For family emergencies, agree on a passphrase in advance and use it to check unexpected requests.
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The FBI also recommends limiting publicly available voice and image material where possible and avoiding sensitive disclosures to people known only online or by phone. These steps can reduce opportunities for impersonation, but independent verification remains essential.
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- Call your bank or credit union immediately. Use an independently verified number. Say what information you shared and when. If money was transferred, ask the institution to attempt a recall or reversal; speed may matter.
- Change exposed passwords. Update the banking password and any other accounts where you reused it. Reset other credentials that may have been compromised, following the bank’s instructions.
- Review the account and report unauthorized activity promptly. Ask the institution what steps it can take to secure the account and address transactions you did not authorize.
- Preserve evidence and report the incident. Keep messages, website addresses, payment details, phone numbers, and other contact information. Report account takeover or fraudulent wire activity to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3); report scams to the FTC as appropriate. Notify a company whose name or site was impersonated.
In a November 25, 2025 alert, IC3 reported receiving more than 5,100 complaints and losses exceeding $262 million since January 2025 involving account takeover fraud through impersonation of financial-institution support. Those figures describe complaints and losses reported to IC3 for that period; they do not measure every incident or establish that every case involved AI.
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- WORKS WITH 1000+ ACCOUNTS: Compatible with popular accounts like Google, Microsoft, and Apple. A single YubiKey 5 NFC secures 100+ of your favorite accounts, including email, password managers, and more
- FAST & CONVENIENT LOGIN: Plug in your YubiKey 5 NFC via USB and tap it, or tap it against your phone (NFC), to authenticate. No batteries, no internet connection, and no extra fees required
- MOST SECURE PASSKEY: Supports FIDO2/WebAuthn, FIDO U2F, Yubico OTP, OATH-TOTP/HOTP, Smart card (PIV), and OpenPGP. That means it’s versatile, working almost anywhere you need it
- PRIMARY & SPARE KEYS: Just like having a spare house key, we recommend buying two YubiKeys - one for daily use and one as a spare. That way you’ll never get locked out of your accounts
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- WORKS WITH 1000+ ACCOUNTS: Compatible with Google, Microsoft, and Apple. A single Security Key NFC secures 100 of your favorite accounts, including email, password managers, and more.
- FAST & CONVENIENT LOGIN: Plug in your Security Key NFC via USB-A and tap it, or tap it against your phone (NFC) to authenticate. No batteries, no internet connection, and no extra fees required.
- TRUSTED PASSKEY TECHNOLOGY: Uses the latest passkey standards (FIDO2/WebAuthn & FIDO U2F) but does not support One-Time Passwords. For complex needs, check out the YubiKey 5 Series.
- BUILT TO LAST: Made from tough, waterproof, and crush-resistant materials. Manufactured in Sweden and programmed in the USA with the highest security standards.
Official guidance
- FBI IC3: account takeover fraud through impersonation of financial institution support
- FBI IC3: malicious use of generative AI to facilitate financial fraud
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: what to do about an email or text asking you to verify bank account information
- Federal Trade Commission: calls about alleged fraud on your bank account
- Federal Trade Commission: IdentityTheft.gov
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