Banks & credit scams

Chase scams involve fake fraud alert texts, phishing emails about account lockouts, and calls from spoofed Chase phone numbers. Scammers trick you into sharing verification codes or moving money to a "safe" account. Chase will never ask you to transfer money to protect it, share your full password, or provide one-time passcodes over the phone.

Bank of America scams typically start with a fake fraud alert text or email, followed by a call from someone impersonating BofA's fraud department. Scammers ask for your login credentials, one-time passcodes, or trick you into sending Zelle payments. Bank of America will never call and ask for your password, full account number, or one-time access code.

Wells Fargo scams involve fake fraud alert texts, phishing emails about account suspension, and phone calls from spoofed Wells Fargo numbers. Scammers trick you into sharing your login credentials or sending Zelle payments to "secure" your account. Wells Fargo will never call or text you asking for your password, PIN, or one-time access code.

Capital One scams involve fake fraud alert texts, phishing emails about account security, and phone calls from spoofed Capital One numbers. Scammers try to steal your login credentials or trick you into sharing verification codes. Capital One will never call, text, or email you asking for your password, PIN, or one-time access code.

Citibank scams involve phishing emails about account suspensions, fake fraud alert texts, and calls from spoofed Citi phone numbers asking for verification codes. Citibank will never email you a link to verify your account, ask for your full card number by phone, or request payment in gift cards.

American Express scams usually start with a fraud-alert text or call about a charge you did not make. The charge is fake, but the alarm is real, and the caller uses it to get a one-time passcode out of you. American Express will never ask you to read back a code, move money, or confirm your full card number on a call you did not place.

Discover scams arrive as fraud-alert texts, calls offering to lower your interest rate, and emails about redeeming cashback. All of them are after the same three things: your card number, your online login, or a one-time code. Discover will never ask you to read back a code or pay a fee to reduce your rate.

USAA scams use spoofed fraud-department calls and texts to get a one-time code or talk you into moving money to a "safe account". USAA will never ask for a code you received, and never asks members to transfer their own money anywhere.

Navy Federal scams almost always run through the fraud-alert script: a text about a suspicious charge, then a call from "the fraud department" asking you to read back a code or move money to a safe account. Navy Federal will never ask you to transfer your own money anywhere, and never needs a code from you.

Most Chime scams begin with a fake support number found by searching. Chime has no inbound phone support you can call, so any "Chime support number" you find on a search result, a social post or an ad belongs to a scammer. Real help is only through the app or chime.com.

Experian scams use fake score-drop alerts and look-alike "free credit report" sites to collect your Social Security number and login. Your genuinely free reports come from annualcreditreport.com, and freezing your credit at experian.com costs nothing.

Equifax scams use credit anxiety as the hook: a fake fraud alert, an offer to freeze your report for a fee, or a "breach settlement payout" needing your bank details. Freezing and unfreezing your credit is free by law at all three bureaus, and no legitimate settlement asks for a payment or a bank login to release money.