The “your account is locked” alert
This one uses fear about your money to make you rush. Once you see the pattern, you will spot it from a mile away.
Step 1 See what it looks like
Security Alert: We noticed unusual activity on your account. For your safety, your account has been LOCKED. You must verify your identity within 24 hours or it will be closed permanently. Click here to verify: secure-bank-verify.com/login. Dear Customer, please act now.
This is a made-up example to teach you. We will never show you a real person’s message.
Step 2 Find the red flags
- 1
“LOCKED … within 24 hours or closed permanently”
Fear plus a deadline. They want you too scared to stop and check.
- 2
“secure-bank-verify.com”
A web address that looks almost right but is not your bank’s real one. Scammers copy the look, not the address.
- 3
“Click here to verify”
The link goes to a fake copy of the login page. Whatever you type, they steal.
- 4
“Dear Customer”
Your real bank knows your name. Scams use “Dear Customer” because they do not.
- 5
“They contacted you”
They reached out to you, not the other way around. That is when to be most careful.
Step 3 See why it works
Fear of losing your money makes you act before you think. The fake page can look exactly like your bank’s. If you type your password there, the scammer now has it.
- Do not click the link in the message.
- Open your bank’s real app, or type their website yourself, or call the number on the back of your card.
- Remember: a real bank will never ask for your full password by email or text.
- If a page reached from a link asks for your password, close it and walk away.
When a message rushes you to “verify” through a link, stop. Go to the company yourself, never through their link.