How to Spot and Stop Bank Scams

Scammers are getting smarter and more sneaky. They pretend to be your bank and trick you into giving them your money. The Federal Trade Commission says people lost over $2. 9 billion to these scams. These crooks use fake caller IDs and even fake voices to sound like real bank employees. Scammers follow a simple plan. They call you and say your account is in trouble. They want you to move your money to a "safe" account. They make you panic so you don't think straight. One man lost $30, 000 this way. Another person lost $162, 000. These scams are everywhere and they work.Why do these scams work? Because people trust their banks. Scammers know this and use it against you. They use technology to make their calls look real. They target older adults, but anyone can fall for it. The FTC says losses over $100, 000 have gone up a lot. You can protect yourself. First, don't trust caller ID. It can be faked. Hang up and call your bank using the number on your card. Your bank will never ask you to move money. If someone does, it's a scam. Use strong antivirus software and never share your verification codes or PINs. Scammers depend on panic. If something feels urgent, take a breath. Report any suspicious activity to your bank and the FTC. If you think you've been scammed, act fast. Freeze your accounts and change your passwords. Use a password manager to keep your passwords safe.