Phone Scam Alert: Criminals Pretending to Be Your Bank Are Targeting Families

A sophisticated scam has been targeting families across Europe, and it could happen anywhere.

Here is how it works: someone calls you claiming to be from your bank. They say there is a problem with your account. They sound professional and reassuring. Then they offer to send someone to your home to collect your bank cards for safekeeping. This is a scam. Dutch police have responded by posting blurred photos of 100 suspects on billboards, in supermarkets, and on TikTok, giving them two weeks to turn themselves in. This scam can affect anyone with a bank account. The criminals are convincing because they may have some of your real information, like your name and partial account details. They use this to build trust. Once they get your cards and PIN, they drain your accounts. The podcast also mentioned a separate story about a security researcher who discovered how hackers could have disrupted the entire World Cup broadcast, but that vulnerability has been fixed. If you get a call like this, follow these rules immediately:

1. Hang up. Your real bank will never send someone to your house to collect your cards.
2. Do not give out your PIN, password, or any security codes over the phone. Ever.
3. Call your bank back using the number on the back of your card or on their official website. Do not use any number the caller gives you.
4. If you already gave out information or your cards, call your bank immediately to freeze your accounts.
5. Report the scam to local police and the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Teach everyone in your family this simple rule: banks never call and ask for your full password, PIN, or request your physical cards. They especially will not send someone to your home. If someone claiming to be from your bank asks for these things, it is always a scam. Hang up and call your bank directly. Share this warning with older family members who may be especially targeted by these scams.