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You can’t tell whether an unexpected call was really from your bank just by looking at caller ID—even if the displayed name and number seem right. Get the caller’s basic claim, hang up, then contact your bank through its official app or website, a recent statement, or the number printed on your card. Don’t share verification codes, grant remote access, or move money to “protect” it.

Why a call that looks like it came from your bank may be a scam

Impersonators may claim there is a suspicious transaction, a hacked account, or a need to verify your information. Caller ID can be spoofed, so a familiar bank name or number does not authenticate the caller. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) says scammers may also use personal details they bought or stole to make a false story sound convincing.

The FTC’s April 2025 alert puts it plainly: “Your caller ID might show the name of a government agency or business, but caller ID can be faked.” The FTC also reported that people lost nearly $3 billion to impersonators in 2024. That figure covers impersonation scams broadly, not bank phone calls alone.

What to do during an unexpected bank call

  1. Pause and ask what the call is about. Get the claimed institution and the basic issue. Urgency is a reason to slow down, not to comply.
  2. Hang up and contact the bank independently. Use the official banking app or website, a recent statement, or the number printed on the back of your card. Don’t call a number the caller gives you or rely on a paid search listing as a verified bank number. The FTC’s guidance on unexpected calls about money at risk recommends this independent check.
  3. Keep codes, credentials, and device access private. Don’t share a one-time verification code, account credentials, or personal or account information with an unexpected caller. Don’t install software or allow remote access at the caller’s direction. Ask about the alleged alert after you reach the bank through a trusted channel.
  4. Do not move money to “protect” it. A request to transfer funds to a supposedly safe account, withdraw cash, buy gift cards, or send cryptocurrency is a serious warning sign. The FTC says bank or investment-company fraud staff won’t ask for a verification code, and a request to move money to protect it is a scam. The CFPB likewise says real financial institutions and government agencies don’t threaten people or ask them to send money to protect it.

Warning signs—and what they can’t prove

  • Pressure to act immediately, keep the call secret, or use contact details the caller supplies: treat these as warning signs and end the call.
  • A request for a code, account information, remote access, or a transfer: don’t comply; contact the bank independently.
  • A familiar caller-ID name or number, or a caller who knows personal details: neither proves the call is genuine.

These signs can help you recognize risk, but there is no universal caller-side test that authenticates every incoming bank call. Independent contact is the safer way to find out whether the bank has a real issue to discuss.

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If you shared information, a code, or money

  1. Contact the real bank promptly using a trusted number, its official app, or its website. Explain exactly what happened: what information you shared, whether you gave a verification code, whether you transferred or paid money, and whether you granted access to a device.
  2. Report unauthorized electronic transactions to your bank or credit union. The CFPB says institutions generally have ten business days to investigate after notification, but that is not a guaranteed resolution deadline or refund. The outcome and timing depend on the transaction and applicable rules. See the CFPB’s guidance on unauthorized transactions and missing money.
  3. Report the scam attempt to the FTC. Use ReportFraud.ftc.gov if you lost money or have information about the phone scam. Include the number that received the call, the number shown on caller ID, any callback number the caller supplied, and the date and time if you know them.
  4. Consider other reporting routes. The CFPB lists the FBI, your state attorney general, and local police as possible contacts for scam or fraud victims. Its scam and fraud contact guidance explains those options.
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What the bank can confirm

After you make contact through an official channel, ask whether there is a real alert or account issue and whether any action is needed. If the bank has no record of the call’s claim, tell it what the caller asked you to do. The incoming call itself—and anything displayed on your phone—cannot settle the question safely.

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