Fake bank adviser using number spoofing
A call shows your bank's real number. The fake adviser warns of fraud and pushes you to approve transactions to protect yourself.
This is the scam causing the most damage right now. Your phone rings and displays the exact number of your branch or your bank's fraud department. On the line, a calm and professional person tells you that a suspicious transaction has just been detected on your account.
The scenario
The fraudster often already knows your name, sometimes the last digits of your card or a recent transaction, thanks to a data breach or an earlier phishing attempt. They stage an emergency: to stop the fraud, you must act right away. They then ask you to:
- approve a notification in your banking app,
- read out a code received by text,
- or "cancel" a payment by making a transfer yourself to a so-called secure account.
Each of these actions actually authorises the fraudulent transaction. The number shown is faked: this technique is called spoofing.
How to spot the scam
- A real adviser will never ask you for a validation code, nor to make a transfer to cancel fraud.
- Urgency and pressure are the hallmark of the scam. You are never given time to think.
- The number on screen proves nothing: it can be spoofed.
What to do
- Hang up. Approve nothing during the call.
- Call your bank back yourself, using the number on the back of your card, from another device if possible.
- If you approved a transaction, report it to your bank immediately and file a complaint.
For a number that looks suspicious to you, you can check its reputation and nature before calling back.