Plainly LivingShort answer
What to do right now
Contact your bank or credit union immediately through its official app, website, card, or statement. Describe exactly what you shared and whether a login, account number, routing number, check, transfer, or code was involved.
Immediate actions
Tell the bank exactly what happened.
Reach the bank or credit union through a trusted route now.
Describe exactly what you shared and whether anyone signed in, viewed accounts, or directed a transfer.
Ask what account protections, changes, and monitoring are appropriate for the facts you report.
Review recent activity and save the bank’s case or reference number.
Do not
Avoid making the situation harder.
- Do not move money to a so-called safe or protected account because an unexpected caller tells you to.
- Do not change your description of the event to fit a particular transaction category.
Records and reporting
Keep the details you already have.
Record what information was exposed, recognized and unrecognized activity, transfer details, and all institution case numbers.
Source notes
Official guidance behind these steps
Plainly Living uses the scope and exceptions recorded in its claim-control ledger. These links go to the responsible public agency.
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: What are some classic warning signs of possible fraud and scams? (opens in a new tab)
- Federal Trade Commission: Phone Scams (opens in a new tab)
- Federal Trade Commission: Never move your money to ‘protect it.’ That’s a scam (opens in a new tab)
- Federal Trade Commission: What To Do if You Were Scammed (opens in a new tab)