Guide
Credit and Debit Card Scams: Fake Fraud Alerts and Texts
Fake fraud alerts by text and phone trick people into giving up card details or moving money. See examples, the red flags, and how to dispute a charge.
Bank Impersonation and Zelle Scams
A text or call says it is from your bank's fraud department: there is a suspicious charge, and you need to act now. The caller ID may even show your bank's real name. They then ask you to read back a one-time code, "move your money to a safe account," or send a payment to yourself through Zelle or another app.
Your bank will never ask you to send money to protect it, and will never ask for a code it just texted you. If you get a call like this, hang up and call the number on the back of your card.
Guides
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Guide
What to Do After You've Been Scammed: First-Hour Checklist
Scammed, or clicked a phishing link? Follow this first-hour checklist to stop payments, lock down accounts, report it and avoid follow-up recovery scams.
Where to report bank & zelle scams
Reporting helps investigators spot patterns and warn others — even if you did not lose money. Type these addresses yourself or use the links below; do not use links from a suspicious message.
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Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
Any scam, fraud or bad business practice — calls, texts, emails, websites and impostors.
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Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)
Problems with a bank, credit card or payment app after a scam — for example, if your bank will not help.
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FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)
Online and computer-related fraud, including tech-support, romance, investment and crypto scams.
You can also report to your state attorney general. If you sent money, call your bank or card company right away using the number on the back of your card.
Other scam types
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Government impostors
Callers and texts pretending to be Social Security, the IRS or Medicare. How to recognize them and where to report them. -
Phone scams
Impostor calls, robocalls, fake prizes and spoofed caller ID. How the most common phone scams work and what to say — or not say. -
Text message scams
Fake fraud alerts, package and toll texts, "wrong number" chats and job offers. Real examples of scam texts and how to report them. -
Email & phishing
Fake emails, look-alike websites and spoofed senders that try to steal passwords, card numbers and personal details. How to spot and report them. -
Delivery & toll texts
Fake texts about a package you missed or an unpaid toll. Learn what the real ones look like and what to do if you clicked. -
Tech support
Pop-ups and calls claiming your computer is infected or hacked. How the scam works, the warning signs, and how to recover. -
Family emergency
A call from a "grandchild" in trouble who needs money fast — now sometimes using a cloned voice. How to check before you pay. -
Romance
Online relationships that turn into requests for money. Warning signs, how to talk to a loved one about it, and where to report. -
Social media
Fake ads and shops, hacked friends, Marketplace tricks and investment "coaches" on social media. How to spot them and protect your account. -
Investment & crypto
Fake trading platforms, "guaranteed" returns and crypto ATMs. How to spot investment fraud before you send money. -
Medicare & health
Calls offering "free" equipment, new cards or plan changes in exchange for your Medicare number. How to protect your benefits.