Bank Alert Text Scam Tries to Trick You to Steal Your Information and Create New Accounts in Your Name
Home Help Center Bank Alert Text Scam Tries to Trick You to Steal Your Information and Create New Accounts in Your Name
- The Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC) is receiving victim inquiries about a bank alert text scam looking to steal your financial information. CBS 17 Raleigh also reports cases of the bank alert text scam in North Carolina.
- Criminals send text messages to people that look like warnings from your bank. They send thousands of texts using different bank names until one is sent to someone who happens to bank at that institution.
- Identity thieves hope to steal your information to commit financial identity crimes. They may look to create a fake bank account in your name to hide money. The ITRC is seeing a rise in financial accounts being opened in people’s names.
- Never click on a link in a message you did not expect. Instead, reach out to your bank directly to verify the message’s validity and learn how to report the text if it is fake. Also, regularly check your accounts for suspicious activity.
- To learn more, or if you believe you are the victim of a bank alert text scam, call the ITRC toll-free by phone (888.400.5530) or live-chat on the company website idtheftcenter.org.
Many people are leery of being the victim of a scam. It is why we may be more prone to act when we receive a text or alert about possible fraudulent activity. However, identity criminals are aware of this and use it to their advantage in bank alert text scams, which are making the rounds. The Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC) has received victim inquiries about the scam. According to CBS 17 Raleigh, it is also impacting people in North Carolina.
Who are the Targets?
People who bank online
What is the Scam?
Criminals send text messages to people that look like bank warnings with links to address the issue. For example, a text message that claims there’s an unauthorized payment on your account that is pending. CBS 17 reports that texts like this are sent out by the thousands using different bank names. The identity thieves use scare tactics in the bank alert text scam to create a sense of urgency – and hope to get a victim who happens to bank at that institution to act immediately.
What They Want
The malicious links can download malware onto your devices and take you to links to forms to enter your personal information. Identity criminals hope to steal your information to commit different forms of identity crimes, including financial identity theft. They also may look to create a fake bank account in your name. The ITRC is seeing an increase in new financial accounts opened in people’s names. The accounts can then be used to hide money under one’s identity.
How to Avoid Being Scammed
- Don’t respond to the messages or click on any links. Instead, go directly to the source (the bank in this case) to verify the validity of the text message.
- Regularly monitor your accounts. Check your financial accounts consistently to make sure there is no suspicious activity. If you receive a text about a fraud alert from your bank, but your account doesn’t look like it has any fraudulent activity, it is probably a bank alert text scam.
- Report the bank alert text scam to your financial institution. Most banks have fraud departments that look into fake texts and phony emails. Contact your bank and ask them where you should send the fake message.
Contact the ITRC
If you have additional questions about the bank alert text scam or believe you were a victim of the scam, contact us. You can speak with an ITRC expert advisor toll-free by phone (888.400.5530) or live-chat on the company website. Just visit www.idtheftcenter.org to get started.
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