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Being pressured right now? Hang up. Call back using a number you find yourself. →

Someone wants me to move my money

A caller, text, or email says your bank account is compromised and tells you to move money, wire funds, or "verify" by transferring to a new account.

Being pressured right now?

Hang up. Stop communicating. Call back using a number you find yourself. — from a bank card, a billing statement, or the official website you type in yourself. Do not use a number the caller gave you, texted you, or that appears on your caller ID.

If you read nothing else

If you read nothing else:

  • Stop communicating, and do not move money, pay, or share codes while you are under pressure.
  • You are told to move money to keep it "safe."
  • Do not move, wire, or transfer money because someone on the call told you to.

Why this is a red flag

You are told to move money to keep it "safe."

Real banks freeze or flag suspicious activity themselves. They do not need you to move your own money to another account to protect it.

The caller creates urgency and discourages you from hanging up.

Scammers want to keep you on the phone so you do not have time to call the bank yourself and check.

Caller ID shows your bank’s real name or number.

Caller ID can be faked ("spoofed") to show any name or number, including your real bank’s. It is not proof of who is calling.

You are asked to buy gift cards, wire money, or send crypto to "protect" your funds.

No legitimate bank or government agency asks for payment in gift cards or cryptocurrency, ever.

What to do right now

Do this now

  • Hang up or stop replying immediately.
  • Call your bank back using the number on your card, a recent statement, or the bank’s official website typed in yourself.
  • Ask the bank directly whether there is any real alert on your account.
  • If you already started a transfer, contact your bank’s fraud department right away to try to stop or reverse it.

What not to do

Don't do this

  • Do not move, wire, or transfer money because someone on the call told you to.
  • Do not call back a number the caller gave you, texted you, or that appeared on caller ID.
  • Do not share your online banking password, PIN, or one-time codes with anyone who calls or texts you.
  • Do not let the caller stay on the line while you "verify" anything.

What to save

What to save

  • The phone number that called or texted you, and the date and time.
  • A screenshot of the text or caller ID, if possible.
  • Notes on what the caller said and any account or reference numbers they gave you.
  • Any confirmation numbers if a transfer was already made.

Common questions

Would a real bank or government agency ever ask me to move my money?

No. A real bank or government agency will never tell you to move your money to a "safe account" to protect it. That instruction is always a scam. Hang up and call your bank using the number on your card or statement.

Why do scammers say my money isn't safe in my own account?

They say this to create fear and urgency so you act before you can check the story. Real banks freeze or flag suspicious activity themselves; they do not need your help moving money.

What if I already moved money to a "safe account"?

Contact your bank's fraud department right away and say you believe the transfer was made because of a scam. Acting fast gives you the best chance, though reversing a transfer is not guaranteed.

Can the government freeze or seize my bank account over the phone?

No. Government agencies do not freeze or seize your bank account by phone call, and they do not ask you to move money to protect it. Anyone who says this is impersonating an agency.

Where to go next

If you already sent money, shared a code, or gave access to something, go to what to do now for next steps by what happened. If money, access, or personal information was shared, you can also go straight to where to report it.

Related situations: Someone wants gift cards, crypto, or cash , Someone wants a verification code .

Last reviewed: 2026-06-30

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