Front Page  »  

FBI warns of scam calls and texts from phony financial institutions

November 29, 2025

By KAREN VELIE

The FBI is warning the public of scam calls, texts, and emails that impersonate financial institutions in attempts to pilfer accounts, according to the Nov. 25 FBI warning.

Since Jan. 1, over 5,000 residents reported more than $262 million in losses because of the scam. Cyber criminals usually gain access to accounts through texts, calls, and emails — or through fraudulent websites.

As part of the scheme, cyber criminals manipulate account holders into giving away their login credentials, including multi-factor authentication codes or one-time passcodes, by impersonating a financial institution employee, customer support, or technical support personnel.

Once the impersonators have access and control of the accounts, the cyber criminals quickly empty the accounts.

Protect your accounts:

  • Do not share personal information like schools attended, pets name or birth dates online.
  • Monitor your financial accounts for irregularities.
  • Use unique complex passwords.
  • Avoid false sites, use bookmarks for navigating to financial institution websites.

 


Loading...
Subjects:
Related:


4 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Why does law enforcement allow these scams to exist? Certainly, all calls can be required to have credentialed vetting before processing so that the originator is financially responsible for any action processed on their behalf. I find it just plain stupid that scam calls exist, we don’t have to allow any unvetted calls from anywhere. With my over 56 years in telecommunication, I see appearance a cooperation between the cops and crooks, a multi-billion, multi-trillion or whatever industry and it is your money.


-1

These are overseas scam “cartels”. US communications law and regulations do not deter them.


When the thick Indian accented female calls and identifies as “Steven”, you know to hang up.


0

I personally know two people, normally intelligent, who were convinced to buy gift cards for ‘someone’ who called them. One of them was for 6000 dollars, thinking he was talking to the IRS. Please, hang up and never, never allow them access to your pc.


1

So what you’re saying is, the US Treasury office in Cameroon really isn’t short on funds only payable by Walmart gift cards?


……………………Dang it!


7