Scammers are constantly finding new ways to make fraudulent messages, phone calls, websites, and payment requests look legitimate. A scam may appear to come from your bank, a government agency, a business, a family member, or someone you know.
Knowing the warning signs can help you pause before sharing information, clicking a link, sending money, or approving a transaction.
Whether you receive a suspicious phone call in NEPA, a text message about your bank account, or an unexpected payment request at work, stop and verify before you act.
Common Warning Signs of a Scam
- Someone is creating a sense of urgency
- Someone asks for information they should not need
- Someone asks for a verification code
- Someone tells you to move your money to “protect” it
- Someone tells you to keep the transaction secret
- Someone demands an unusual form of payment
- Someone wants remote access to your computer or phone
- A message contains a link you were not expecting
- The caller ID or email address looks legitimate
- Someone tells you that you won money
- Someone sends you money and asks you to send some of it back
- Someone you met online asks for money
Someone is creating a sense of urgency
Be cautious when someone tells you that you must act immediately or something bad will happen if you do not.
Examples include:
- “Your account will be closed today.”
- “Your payment must be made immediately.”
- “Your computer has been compromised.”
- “You will be arrested if you do not pay.”
- “You must verify your account right now.”
Urgency can make it harder to stop and evaluate whether a request is legitimate.
Someone asks for information they should not need
Be cautious if an unexpected caller, text, email, or website asks for sensitive information such as:
- Online banking usernames or passwords
- Debit card or credit card numbers
- Social Security numbers
- Account numbers
- Personal identification information
- One-time verification codes
- Online banking security information
Never assume a request is legitimate simply because the person knows some information about you.
Someone asks for a verification code
A one-time verification code is intended to help confirm your identity. An unexpected caller who asks you to provide that code may be attempting to gain access to an account.
If someone contacts you and asks for a code that was sent to your phone or email, stop and verify the request through a trusted channel.
Someone tells you to move your money to “protect” it
Be extremely cautious if someone claiming to be from a bank, government agency, law enforcement, or another trusted organization tells you to move money to another account to keep it safe.
A scammer may claim that your account has been compromised and that transferring your funds will protect them.
Do not rely on the caller’s instructions. End the conversation and contact the organization using a telephone number or website you know is legitimate.
Someone tells you to keep the transaction secret
Requests for secrecy are a warning sign.
A scammer may tell you not to discuss the situation with your family, bank, coworkers, or anyone else because doing so could supposedly interfere with an investigation or transaction.
Legitimate organizations generally do not need you to keep an unexpected financial transaction secret from your bank or trusted advisers.
Someone demands an unusual form of payment
Be cautious when someone insists that you pay using methods that are difficult to reverse or recover.
Examples can include:
- Gift cards
- Cryptocurrency
- Wire transfers
- Cash
- Certain peer-to-peer payment methods
A legitimate business may accept several forms of payment. A demand for an unusual payment method, particularly when combined with urgency or threats, deserves additional scrutiny.
Someone wants remote access to your computer or phone
Be cautious if an unexpected caller claims to be technical support, a bank representative, or another service provider and asks you to install software or give them remote access to your device.
Remote access can allow another person to view information on your device or take actions on your behalf.
Do not provide remote access simply because someone claims your device or account has a problem.
A message contains a link you were not expecting
Unexpected links deserve caution, particularly when the message claims that you must sign in, verify information, make a payment, or resolve an account problem.
A fraudulent website may look very similar to the legitimate website it is impersonating.
Instead of using an unexpected link, go directly to the organization’s known website or use a trusted telephone number.
The caller ID or email address looks legitimate, but you haven’t verified it yet
Scammers can make telephone numbers, names, logos, email addresses, and other identifying information appear legitimate.
Caller ID alone does not prove who is calling.
Likewise, seeing a familiar company name or logo in an email does not prove that the message came from that organization.
Verify unexpected requests independently.
Someone tells you that you won money
Be skeptical of unexpected claims that you have won a lottery, sweepstakes, prize, or contest you do not remember entering.
A request to pay money or provide sensitive financial information before receiving a supposed prize is a significant warning sign.
Someone sends you money and asks you to send some of it back
Be cautious if someone sends you a check, payment, or electronic transfer and then asks you to return part of the money.
This can be part of an overpayment or counterfeit-check scam. A payment may appear to have been deposited before it is ultimately determined to be fraudulent.
Do not assume that available funds mean the payment is legitimate.
Someone you met online asks for money
Be cautious when someone you have met through social media, a dating site, an online community, or another online service asks you to send money.
Romance and relationship scams can involve requests for money related to supposed emergencies, medical expenses, travel, investments, or other financial problems.
A person can build a relationship and gain your trust before asking for money.
Stop. Verify. Then Act.
If an unexpected request involves your money, account, personal information, or computer, take a moment before responding.
Stop
Do not click, send money, provide a password, share a verification code, or give remote access simply because someone tells you to.
Verify
Contact the organization, person, or business using information you obtained independently.
For example, if someone claims to be calling from your bank, do not rely solely on the telephone number provided by the caller. Use a trusted telephone number or another established method of contacting the bank.
Act
Once you have independently verified the situation, decide how to proceed.
If you believe you have already responded to a scam or provided information to a scammer, visit What to Do If You Have Been Scammed for steps you can take.
Trust Your Pause
Scammers often try to prevent you from taking time to think, ask questions, or verify what you are being told.
A request involving your money or sensitive information does not become legitimate simply because someone sounds convincing or knows personal details about you. Review some of the known scam methods.
If something feels unexpected, pressured, or inconsistent with what you normally experience, pause and verify before you act.
Remember These Three Questions
Before responding to an unexpected financial request, ask:
1. Do I know who contacted me?
Do not assume that a familiar name, telephone number, logo, or email address proves the person’s identity.
2. Was I expecting this request?
An unexpected request for money, account information, a verification code, or access to your device deserves additional scrutiny.
3. Can I verify it independently?
Use a trusted telephone number, official website, known contact, or another reliable source rather than relying on information supplied by the person who contacted you.
When in Doubt, Stop and Verify
Scammers can imitate legitimate organizations and create convincing messages. No single warning sign identifies every scam, and legitimate communications can sometimes look unusual.
The safest response to an unexpected request involving your finances or sensitive information is to slow down and verify it independently before taking action.
Fidelity Bank serves individuals, families, and businesses throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania and the Lehigh Valley. If you believe you have already responded to a scam, provided sensitive information, or sent money to a scammer, see What to Do If You Have Been Scammed for information about next steps.