During a regular client review this month, a client shared how she nearly lost $20,000 to a scam. It started with something many of us have experienced: a credit card that wouldn’t activate.
While traveling this summer, she and her husband noticed an unauthorized charge for a hotel in Spain. They promptly contacted their credit card company and had replacement cards issued.
When she was back home, she tried to activate her new card. Her husband’s card had activated without a problem, but hers wouldn’t work. Of course, she was getting ready to go see a sick friend in half an hour. She was trying to be efficient and make the best use of her time. So, she did what many of us might do: she Googled the issuing credit card’s phone number.
Unfortunately, the number she found connected her to a scammer.
The man answered using her credit card’s name, asked for the last four digits of her card, and reassured her that he would get everything sorted out. He sounded helpful and convincing. Eventually, he persuaded her to share her computer screen.
That’s when a simple activation problem turned into a supposed financial emergency.
He told her that someone was trying to cash a $20,000 check against her bank account at another bank—and that it was about to go through. He then brought a supposed bank “security officer” from her second bank onto the call.
The “security officer” claimed that writing another $20,000 check would offset and cancel the fraudulent check. He gave her a name and an address in Pittsburgh where she should send it.
He also told her not to contact her bank directly, suggesting that someone inside the bank might be involved.
The callers supplied names, phone numbers, and badge numbers to make their story sound official. Both supposed institutions called from the same number. And, of course, there was urgency: she needed to act immediately to protect her money.
Fortunately, something interrupted their plan.
My client took a breath. She had promised to visit her sick friend and needed to be there at a specific time. She decided this banking problem would have to wait until the next morning. They offered to and called her at 6 AM. She didn’t answer.
That pause made all the difference.
With a little distance from the conversation, the pieces stopped adding up. She contacted her bank directly, explained what had happened, and the bank began a fraud investigation. No money was lost—but it could very easily have been.
I’m sharing her story because scams don’t always begin with an obviously suspicious email or an outlandish promise. Sometimes they begin when you’re busy, distracted, and simply trying to get something done.
Here are six things to keep in mind:
- Use a phone number you can verify. Call the number on the back of your card or use your bank’s official app or website. A number appearing in search results isn’t proof that it belongs to your bank.
- Protect your account information. Don’t provide account numbers, passwords, PINs, or verification codes to someone whose identity you haven’t independently confirmed.
- Don’t share your screen or allow remote access at a caller’s request. If someone says they need access to your computer to resolve a banking issue, stop and contact your bank through a trusted channel.
- Pay attention to pressure—even when it sounds reassuring. A calm, friendly voice doesn’t prove someone’s identity. Be especially cautious when reassurance comes with repeated instructions to act immediately.
- Take a breath and verify the story. An urgent claim is a reason to contact your bank promptly through a trusted number. It isn’t a reason to follow the caller’s instructions without checking.
- Don’t move money to “protect” it. Requests to write a check, transfer funds, or send money to cancel fraud are a major warning sign. So is being told not to speak with your own bank.
And please remember there’s no shame in being targeted. These callers can be very persuasive.
If something feels off, hang up, take a breath, and make a fresh call to a number you trust. You can also reach out to our team to talk through a suspicious financial request.
Sometimes, making a great decision starts with giving yourself a moment to think.