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What to do if…
you receive a suspicious text or call claiming your account will be closed

Produced and maintained by PanicStation.org Published: Last reviewed: Editorial policy USA guide

Short answer

Stop responding and do not click links, share codes, approve payments, or move money. Hang up or close the text, then contact your bank using the number on your card, your statement, the official app, or a web address you type yourself.

Do not do these things

  • Do not click links, open attachments, or install any app the message or caller suggests.
  • Do not share one-time codes, passwords, PINs, card details, account numbers, Social Security number, or security-question answers.
  • Do not approve a payment, transfer, Zelle payment, wire, gift card purchase, crypto transfer, or cash withdrawal because someone is pressuring you.
  • Do not move money to a “safe account” or “holding account.”
  • Do not call the number in the text, and do not rely on caller ID; names and numbers can be spoofed.
  • Do not log in to banking while you are still on the call, screen-sharing, or following the caller’s instructions.

What to do now

  1. Break contact immediately.
    Hang up or stop texting. The safe move is to verify through a route you already trust, not to act fast because the message says your account will close.

  2. Check your account using your normal trusted route.
    Open the bank app you already use, type the bank’s web address yourself, or use the number on your card or statement. Look for:

    • transfers, card charges, wires, or payment-app activity you do not recognize
    • new payees, recipients, linked cards, or linked bank accounts
    • changes to your email, phone number, password, mailing address, or alerts

  3. Contact your bank and ask for the fraud team.
    Use the number on the back of your card, your statement, in-app secure messaging, or the official website you typed yourself. Say: “I got an urgent text or call saying my account would be closed. Please check for fraud, account takeover, new payees, and recent security changes.”

  4. If you clicked, shared anything, installed an app, or approved a payment, tell the bank immediately.
    Be specific: code shared, password entered, card details given, transfer approved, remote access allowed, or screen sharing used. Ask the bank to:

    • lock or secure the affected account
    • reset online banking access and security settings
    • stop or recall transfers if possible
    • replace affected cards
    • review recent payee, contact-detail, and device changes

  5. Secure your logins from a safe device.
    Change your bank password and the password for the email account used for bank resets. Turn on multi-factor authentication using bank-provided options. If you installed an unfamiliar app or allowed remote access, stop using that device for banking until it has been checked or cleaned.

  6. Report the text through your phone and carrier route.
    Forward the unwanted text to 7726 (SPAM). Use your messaging app’s “Report Junk” or “Report Spam” option if available, then block the sender. Blocking may not stop spoofed messages, but it can reduce repeats from that sender.

  7. Report the scam after your account is secure.
    Report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. If it involved online account takeover, phishing links, wire fraud, or other internet-enabled fraud, you can also report it to the FBI’s IC3 by typing the official IC3 web address yourself.

  8. If you shared Social Security number or identity information, start identity-theft steps.
    Use IdentityTheft.gov for a recovery checklist. If identity theft is a concern, you can place a fraud alert or credit freeze with the credit bureaus.

What can wait

  • You do not need to figure out who the scammer is right now.
  • You do not need to argue with them, call them back, or prove anything to them.
  • You do not need to decide today whether to change banks, replace your phone, or change your phone number.
  • Detailed reporting can wait until your bank access, cards, and passwords are stable.

Important reassurance

These scams are designed to create urgency and make normal verification feel risky. Hanging up, slowing down, and contacting your bank through a trusted route is the safer response.

Scope note

These are first steps for immediate damage control and safe verification. If money was taken, accounts were changed, or identity information was exposed, later decisions may need help from your bank, official reporting tools, credit bureaus, or another qualified specialist.

Important note

This is general information, not legal, financial, cybersecurity, or professional advice. If you are unsure whether a message is real, treat it as untrusted until you verify it through contact details you already trust.

Additional Resources

Closely connected guides that may be useful during the same situation or its immediate aftermath.

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.

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