us Money & financial emergencies

What to do if…
someone calls claiming your bank will send a courier to collect your card

Produced and maintained by PanicStation.org Published: 4 June 2026 Last reviewed: 17 July 2026 Editorial policy USA guide

Short answer

Hang up. Treat an unexpected request to hand your card to a courier as a scam: do not give anyone your card, PIN, password, or security code. Contact your bank independently using its official app, a statement, or the number on your card if the card is still safely in your possession.

Do not do these things

Do not share your PIN, online banking password, or any one-time security code.
Do not hand over your card or its chip to a courier or anyone who comes to your home.
Do not call a number supplied by the caller or trust the caller ID display.
Do not cut up the card for the caller or leave the chip intact for collection.
Do not move money to a supposedly safe account.
Do not keep the call secret because the caller told you to.
Do not argue with the caller or stay on the line to gather more information.

What to do now

End the call. If they call back, do not continue the conversation while you secure the situation.
If someone is at your door, keep the door closed. Do not hand anything over. If you feel unsafe, someone will not leave, or there is an immediate threat, call 911.
Contact your bank independently as soon as possible. Open the bank’s official app yourself, or use a number from a statement or from your card if the card is still safely in your possession. Do not use a link or number supplied by the caller. Tell the bank that someone claimed a courier would collect your card. Ask the bank to secure your card and account, review recent and pending activity, and tell you whether the card should be blocked and replaced.
Tell the bank exactly what you shared or did. Mention any PIN, password, security code, card details, address confirmation, card cutting, money movement, or handover. Ask what must be changed or secured, including whether credentials or account contact details need attention.
Write down the key details once the immediate risk is contained. Note the date and time of the call, the caller’s number, any callback number, names or aliases used, what the caller claimed, what they asked for, whether they knew your address, and whether a pickup time was arranged.
Report the incident after contacting the bank. File a report with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center and include the keyword #BankChipHack. Report the scam to the FTC as well, even if you did not lose money.

What can wait

You do not need to decide now whether this was identity theft or only an attempted scam.
You do not need to prove the call was fake or investigate the caller yourself.
You do not need to contact several organisations at once. Secure the bank account first, then make reports.

Important reassurance

Ending the call and refusing to hand over the card is the right response. Caller ID can be spoofed, and pressure can make the situation harder to process. You are allowed to stop the conversation and check independently.

Scope note

These are first steps to reduce immediate risk and regain control. Later steps may depend on what was shared, whether money moved, and what your bank finds. Your bank or an appropriate specialist can help you work through those later decisions.

Important note

This guide provides general information only. It is not legal, financial, medical, therapeutic, or other professional advice. If you feel in immediate danger, call 911.

Additional Resources

About this guide

This guide was produced and is maintained by PanicStation.org using its published editorial process. Official and specialist sources are checked where relevant, and AI-assisted tools may be used for drafting, organisation, and consistency checks. The site operator remains responsible for publication, revision, and removal decisions.

Support us