According to reports from CBS News, a new phishing scam is spreading rapidly that uses high-tech trickery to mask the phone numbers of the . The text is from a bank or financial institution that you dont use (or havent used in years). They may call, use pop-up screens or email to convince you that your device has a virus or that you're owed money. To learn more about relationship-based ads, online behavioral advertising and our privacy practices, please review Bank of America Online Privacy Notice and our Online Privacy FAQs. This story is part of CNET Money Tips, CNET's helpful tips for saving money now and protect your wealth in the future. She thought she was being diligent by asking questions. Friendly or familial identity theft, Unemployment and government benefits identity theft, Account takeovers (social media, email, etc. The display of third-party trademarks and trade names on this site does not necessarily indicate any affiliation or the endorsement of PCMag. Do your research; get multiple quotes for comparison, and make sure the contractors are licensed. Keeping tabs on your financial accounts is critical these days, but how can you be certain an alert from your financial institution is legitimate? SBI Alert: SBI , , . UIC News contributor Text scams (also known as smishing) are among the most common tactics scammers use to steal personal information. A text message from your bank or insurance company telling you that a substantial amount is being debited. Never assume a text is legitimate even if it uses a phone number you recognize (as scammers can spoof their number and hide the true source). The most common types of scams will target you through fake emails, text messages, voice calls, letters or even someone who shows up at your front door unexpectedly. Beware! The phone call following the text message was also fraudulent, which is spooky but not unusual. An example of the scam text is in the screenshot below: The content states, " New login to your Chase account. Reply stop to opt-out of all bofa alerts., Alerts: Due to new online updates your online banking has been temporarily blocked to stop fraudulent use. After youve pinned the Trend Micro Check extension, it will block dangerous sites automatically! Maybe. I received a phone call from a supposed Bank of America representative, who was following up on the text exchange. Take note of caller ID, but be aware that it can be spoofed! Bank of America does sometimes send text alerts asking clients to verify a transaction, but the text I received was not from the bank. If you receive a message from Bank of America that contains any of the following, this should raise a red flag rather than prompt you to respond to the text: 1. Protect your bank and credit card accounts by looking out for three fake emails/texts coming from DHL, FedEx, and Apple. Whether you are looking for a vacation rental or are purchasing or refinancing a home, you may still be a target for scammers. Avoid giving out your phone number to strangers or posting it to your social media accounts. Each spam text message has its purpose. Scammers may try to target you through a fake business, social media or email account. If you signed up for Aura through a free trial, then your membership purchase date will be the date you signed up for your free trial, and you will have 60 days from the date you signed up for your free trial to cancel and request a refund. Scammers often spoof numbers of legitimate businesses to make spam texts appear authentic. However, the victims are actually transferring the money to the scammers. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. For more tips, check out our guide on avoiding phishing scams. Logically, people don't send scam text messages just because they want to play with your time or nerves. Scammers use the threat of fraudulent purchases to get you on the phone or to prompt you to confirm your banking information., In one common version of this scam, youll get a courtesy alert about a purchase you didnt make. 2023 Bank of America Corporation. Sometimes the communication sounds urgent and alarming. 5. Results based on a 2022 mystery shopper consumer study conducted by ath Power Consulting. If you accidentally responded to a scam text or clicked on a link, you could be vulnerable to several different cyber and phishing attacks. But in both cases, the scammers want you to engage so that they can steal your personal information or get you to send them money., Contact the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration here. Asking me to change my password over the phone was a serious red flag. She called the number in the text and quickly verified her identity by providing her Social Security number (SSN) and debit card details. The description herein is a summary and intended for informational purposes only and does not include all terms conditions and exclusions of the policies described. Do not act unless you have verified the person who has contacted you and the story or request is legitimate. If you notice unauthorized activity on your account, contact us immediately at 888-PNC-Bank (888-762-2265) or stop by your local branch. Fake fraud alerts asking you to "verify" your identity Phone calls claiming that your account is compromised Emails demanding you verify your account or risk losing access Text messages claiming your BoA account is suspended or locked Zelle, Venmo, and other payment app scams Claims that scammers opened a Bank of America account in your name Make sure they have a refund policy, information on privacy terms and conditions, and ways you can contact them. As compared to the competition. Instead, go to the official website for the delivery service (FedEx, USPS, etc.) In this guide, well explain how Bank of America scams commonly work, the latest schemes to watch out for, and what to do if youre a victim. You might get an unexpected email or text message that looks like it's from a company you know or trust, like a bank or a credit card or utility company. If you received a text message from Bank of America alerting you of a recent transfer or one that requests sensitive information, beware, it could be a scam. Equal Housing Lender. Lenders use many different credit scoring systems, and the score you receive with Aura is not the same score used by lenders to evaluate your credit. Or you could get a quote for moving your items to your new place that turns out to be significantly higher and they'll hold your belongings until you pay. And that's bad news for fraudsters. At that point, Bank of America, seeing the attempts, prompted me to reset my password after I logged in. Never cash a check for someone you don't know. All adult members get all the listed benefits. To get you to do this, cybercriminals create text messages that create a sense of urgency so youre prompted to act before you even have time to process the information. You can also switch to using an authenticator app instead of SMS-based 2FA. Use caution if asked to pay using untraceable means such as a wire, money transfer or gift card. They had tried at least once, were unsuccessful, and decided to text me to get my password. They know exactly what to say to get you to act without thinking.. The FBI has issued a warning(Opens in a new window) about cybercriminals circulating fake fraud alerts to trick victims into handing over their cash. I was annoyed with myself for being so perplexed by the situation. They may send you an email that appears to be from your real estate agent, title company, or settlement agent/attorney with last minute updates to wiring instructions. In reality, they control the account to which youre transferring the money., But isnt Zelle owned by the bank? Verify everything they claim and do not send sensitive information to anyone whose identity you can't confirm. Then, scammers make an emotional plea, telling you a story that ends with a request to transfer money through untraceable means like a wire transfer or gift cards. Scammers are sending text messages with phoney fraud alerts stating there has been a request to withdraw or transfer a large amount of money from your bank account. Minutes later, both her personal and business accounts were empty., Unfortunately, Kizzy is just one of nearly 60 million Americans who have fallen victim to text message scams in the past year [*].. Well, just as I'd initially assumed, it's because whoever was texting me (from Waltham) was, indeed, trying to hack my account. Turn to the banks customer support directly for help if you think there are security issues with your bank account. If you receive a text from your bank or any other institute, NEVER NEVER click on . Please, dont fall for the trick. You may cancel your membership online and request a refund within 60 days of your initial purchase date of an eligible Aura membership purchase by calling us at 1-855-712-0021. Americans lost $2.3 billion to imposter scams in 2021 alone with scammers regularly posing as bank employees to gain their victims trust [*].. These fake fraud alerts ask you to respond with YES or NO for a pending transaction. How can you identify these text message scams, and what should you do if you get one? As mentioned, if you receive any type of text alert from Bank of America that has you feeling confused or alarmed, call Bank of America at 800-432-1000. Scammers may pose as businesses or people you know like your bank, utility company, phone provider or even a friend or relative. Customers' text messages may be similar to the following: "Citizens Bank Alert: We've detected suspicious activity on your account. The text message asks you to confirm a Zelle transfer. 2,695,229,046. Stay updated with smart tax tips to help you file your return, track your refund and get the most money back. Recently we've detected a lot of fake "security alerts" from well-known banks, including Citibank, Citizens Bank, Wells Fargo, and Chase. Scammers often pose as employees of familiar companies and ask you to provide remote access or download an app. Representatives are available Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m. Do . Authenticator apps are more secure, as they generate a one-time code within the app that expires after a set-time limit usually 30 seconds. uictoday@uic.edu, Office of Strategic Marketing and Communications, 2023 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois, UIC Social Media Guidelines and Best Practices. In this common Bank of America scam, fraudsters send text messages asking you to verify your identity in order to regain access to your account.. This time, it was from Wells Fargo. To report spam text messages, forward it to SPAM (7726). Want CNET to notify you of price drops and the latest stories? As a scam tactic, its deceptively simple and effective.. Maybe even some that claim to be from a bank? If you get one, just call bank of America It's a phishing scam. * Identity Theft Insurance underwritten by insurance company subsidiaries or affiliates of American International Group Inc. However, theyre also an early warning sign that you could be at risk of further scams.. Source: Getty Images/Bank of America (Twitter). Look for secure URLs (https://), and while an encrypted site does not guarantee safety - beware of buying from sites with no encryption. Trend Micro Check is an all-in-onebrowser extension and mobile appfor detecting scams, phishing attacks, malware, and dangerous links and its FREE! Following a disaster, unlicensed contractors will canvas the impacted areas promising to get clean up or repairs done quickly. With Aura, theres always someone watching out for you., How To Protect Your Bank Account From Identity Theft [NEW]. The scammers will then walk the victim through the various steps to reverse the payment. Pay attention to links. Some tips for identifying fake text messages include checking the sender's number to see where they are from, looking for grammar and spelling errors, and if the text contains suspicious links. Think twice before you make any payments through Zelle. We do not claim, and you should not assume, that all users will have the same experiences. Someone Forged My Signature on a Check and Cashed It . In addition, financial advisors/Client Managers may continue to use information collected online to provide product and service information in accordance with account agreements. The FBI adds: Be skeptical of callers that provide personally identifiable information, such as Social Security numbers and past addresses, as proof of their legitimacy. This information may be used to deliver advertising on our Sites and offline (for example, by phone, email and direct mail) that's customized to meet specific interests you may have. Code: Card temporarily locked. If you signed up for Aura through a free trial, then your membership purchase date will be the date you signed up for your free trial, and you will have 60 days from the date you signed up for your free trial to cancel and request a refund. I also found the Bank of America logo following the text to be a bit wonky. Never provide personal information over a text or phone call unless you know. fraudsters are increasingly finding new ways to steal from our accounts, T-Mobile data breach and SIM-swap scam: How to protect your identity, Best identity theft protection and monitoring services for 2021, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. The message could be from a scammer, who might say they've noticed some suspicious activity or log-in attempts they haven't "Yeah, right." Know the scams that may follow a natural disaster. About Us. They may ask you to send funds to yourself or others using online or mobile banking. They may be compensated as a marketing affiliate of Aura, but their ratings are all their own. The from name says Bank of America, it uses the banks official logo, and the email describes what sounds like a plausible situation.. In this scam, they send fake text messages claiming that your account has been suspended or locked. To my surprise, this person was polite, friendly, calm and pronounced my name correctly (no easy feat). The text message asks you to confirm sensitive information. Help protect yourself and your accounts see what to do (and why it matters). Invest in antivirus software and other cyber security software that can flag suspicious emails and websites. Terrified of losing her account, she almost clicked on the link when she received another text. All Rights Reserved. Source: Reddit Scammers know that sending you anything to do with your bank account will prompt you to act without thinking. I responded with NO and then received a call from (888) 758-9000 which said TD Bank. Double-check the senders mobile number/email address. If you switched to a new annual plan within 60 days of your initial Aura annual subscription, you may still qualify for the Money Back Guarantee (based upon your initial annual plan purchase date). For one, my "online ID" was not correct. However, if you dig deeper, there are clear red flags indicating that youre dealing with a scam: While some of these elements are clear warning signs, not all Bank of America scams are as easy to recognize.. With that said, if you receive a text alert from Bank of America and want to be sure it's legitimate, login into your account online or via the banks app or call the bank directly. Here's a snapshot of the text to which I replied, "No.". (Photos: KMPH FOX26) A Clovis Man falls victim to a scam after he thought he never would, he says. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Fake bank text messages are a problem consumers should be careful with November 3, 2022, 8:35 AM Have you noticed an increasing number of random text messages coming into your phone? Itll then ask if you recently made an instant payment in the thousands of dollars. Were you scammed online? Avoid being taken advantage of when donating: Are you taking the right precautions before you buy online? We strive to provide you with information about products and services you might find interesting and useful. Further, any testimonials on this website reflect experiences that are personal to those particular users, and may not necessarily be representative of all users of our products and/or services. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. My first thought? Pressured to act immediately with an alarming phone call, email or text that plays with your emotions. Never assume a text message is from a trusted source. ET. The sender requests personal information via text or phone call.. Two of the most common examples are: Whatever angle the scammers take, their goal is to get you to visit a fake website that will steal your personal information such as your bank account credentials or Social Security number (SSN)., Related: Scammed on Zelle? 15K views 6 months ago Beware of a Bank of America (BofA) alert text scam that involves a fake text message or email with the scammers' goal of phishing, sometimes regarding California's. Once you send someone money via these services, its essentially gone., In payment app scams, fraudsters contact you via phone calls, emails, or texts and explain that your account has been compromised. Read more:Best identity theft protection and monitoring services for 2021. Contractors may try to offer special deals that seem too good to be true. I said, honestly, I was not really sure the text that I received was legitimate. This "rep" began by saying that since I verified that the transaction had not been authorized in that text with a "No," I needed to reset my password with her. Fake bank text messages are a problem consumers should be careful with Sign in Fake bank text messages are a problem consumers should be careful with November 3, 2022, 8:30 AM Have you noticed. It is calculated using the information contained in your Equifax credit file. Your guide to navigating online safety with your kids is here. Also, never pay a fee or provide personal information such as your SSN, account number, driver license, etc., in exchange for claiming a prize., Related: How To Spot (and Avoid) Publishers Clearing House Scams , If youre out shopping or in immediate need of funds, you could be tempted to try and unblock your card using a link contained in a spam text message. Be careful if giving through social media and other online fundraising platforms. On a recent morning, Bank of America appeared to reach me via text message to notify me of an ill-fated attempt to hack my checking account. A couple examples of the BOA fraud text message: BoaFreeMsg: Bank of America Fraud: Did you attempt Zelle transaction $1000.00?
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