How to handle unexpected calls that claim your money is at risk

Your phone rings and what the caller says next sends you into a panic. They claim there’s fraud on your credit card, someone hacked your bank account, you owe a tax debt, or your benefits will end today. Your adrenaline is pumping, and your mind races a hundred miles an hour. They sense this—and they say they can help. Should you trust them? No.

Pump the brakes. The caller might know things about you—like your full name or address—or your accounts. But that doesn’t mean they’re trustworthy. Scammers buy or steal this information to make their lies seem believable.

So, what should you do if you get a call like this?

1. Get some basic details, then hang up. What company or bank are they calling from? What’s the problem? Then hang up. Yes, hang up.
2. Verify the story by contacting the company or bank yourself. Do you have an account with the company or bank the caller says they represent? Contact the company directly to find out what’s going on:

• Do use the official app or website to get in touch with the fraud department
• Do call the phone number on a recent statement or the back of your card
• Do not rely on top search results to find a company’s contact information—scammers often buy paid search ads so their fake numbers appear at the top of the listings

3. Always talk to a trusted friend or family member. No legitimate fraud department will tell you to keep the call a secret.

And no matter who says they’re calling, never share your personal or account information, don’t grant anyone remote access to your phone or computer, and keep account verification codes to yourself. If you think it’s a scam, report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Your report helps stop the scammers.

For more advice, visit How To Avoid Imposter Scams.