The caller already knew my account number. Doesn't that mean they are from my bank?

No. Callers can obtain partial account details from data breaches or earlier phishing, and some lock a banking app to make the story feel real. Knowing those details does not make the call genuine.

They said the Cash App transfer was only temporary while they fixed the problem. Is that ever real?

No. Real banks and credit unions do not ask you to move money to a temporary card or an unknown Chime account to protect or repair your account. Hang up and call the number on your card.

The caller said they were sending me a code to confirm it was me. Should I read it back?

No. Lakewood, Colorado police say real banks and legitimate organizations will never call or text asking for your verification code. Clark Howard explains that the code comes from the scammer's own attempt to sign in to your account, so reading it out hands them the way in.

Should I call back the number that just rang?

No. Use the phone number printed on the back of your card, the official website, or visit a branch. Calling back the number on the missed-call list can put you through to the same caller.

Scam alert

"Bank" Caller Says to Send Money by Cash App? It's a Scam. Hang Up

Updated Oct 19 · First posted Oct 2

North Carolina, Georgia and nationwide · clark.com · Arrives by a phone call that looks like it is from your bank or credit union

The short answer

Hang up if someone who says they are your bank or credit union asks you to send money through Cash App, Chime, or a temporary card while they "fix" a problem, or asks you to read back a code just sent to your phone. Real banks and credit unions do not ask for either, even when the caller already knows part of your account number. Police in Lakewood, Colorado, said in September 2026 that reading out the code lets the caller into your account. Hang up and call the number on the back of your card.

What is happening

In September 2026, the Lakewood, Colorado Police Department warned on its official X account that callers who claim there is suspicious activity on an account offer to help protect the money, then ask the person to read back the verification code sent to their phone, which lets them log in and take money or private data; consumer columnist Clark Howard wrote that month that the code is a real two-factor code generated by the scammer's own attempt to log in. On September 24, 2026, ABC45 reported that the Randolph County Sheriff's Office in North Carolina warned of callers impersonating credit-union staff who said accounts or debit cards were compromised and told people to provide card details or move money through Cash App to a temporary card or an unknown Chime account; some already had valid account information or locked a banking app. Chatham County, Georgia police issued a related bank-imposter warning on September 22, 2026, after a case where the caller already knew part of a resident's real account number.

How to recognize it

An unsolicited caller who says they are from your bank or credit union asks you to send money through Cash App, Chime, or onto a temporary card.
They say a verification code is coming to your phone and ask you to read it back to them. That code lets them sign in to your account.
They claim your account or debit card is compromised and need you to move money while they fix it.
They already know part of your account number, or your banking app suddenly will not open.
They ask for debit-card numbers, PINs, passwords, or one-time codes.
They tell you to stay silent and not mention the transfer to anyone at the bank.

What to do instead

Hang up. Do not call back the number that rang.
Call your bank or credit union on the number on the back of your card, or visit a branch.
Do not send money through a payment app, and do not share a PIN, password, or one-time code.
Review recent transactions for anything you do not recognize.
If you want to tell someone, the rule is: your bank will never ask you to move money through Cash App or Chime to fix an account.

If it already happened

Responding to one of these is common and understandable. These steps are what people usually take next.

Answering a call that sounds exactly like your bank is very common. The call is built to feel urgent and routine.
Call your bank or credit union on the number on your card and report what happened, including any code you read out.
If you sent money through a payment app, contact the app's support and your bank right away—transfers can be hard to reverse.
Change your online banking password and report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

Open Help Now

Common questions

The caller already knew my account number. Doesn't that mean they are from my bank?: No. Callers can obtain partial account details from data breaches or earlier phishing, and some lock a banking app to make the story feel real. Knowing those details does not make the call genuine.
They said the Cash App transfer was only temporary while they fixed the problem. Is that ever real?: No. Real banks and credit unions do not ask you to move money to a temporary card or an unknown Chime account to protect or repair your account. Hang up and call the number on your card.
The caller said they were sending me a code to confirm it was me. Should I read it back?: No. Lakewood, Colorado police say real banks and legitimate organizations will never call or text asking for your verification code. Clark Howard explains that the code comes from the scammer's own attempt to sign in to your account, so reading it out hands them the way in.
Should I call back the number that just rang?: No. Use the phone number printed on the back of your card, the official website, or visit a branch. Calling back the number on the missed-call list can put you through to the same caller.

Practice this safely

Practice hanging up on a bank caller who asks for a Cash App transfer, then calling the number on your card.

Every story is fictional. There is no timer, no score, and no real message, payment, or account.

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Tell someone

Copy a short note you can paste into a text or email. It names the scam, the next step, and this page. Nothing is sent from this site.

"Bank" Caller Says to Send Money by Cash App? It's a Scam. Hang Up

Hang up if someone who says they are your bank or credit union asks you to send money through Cash App, Chime, or a temporary card while they "fix" a problem, or asks you to read back a code just sent to your phone. Real banks and credit unions do not ask for either, even when the caller already knows part of your account number. Police in Lakewood, Colorado, said in September 2026 that reading out the code lets the caller into your account. Hang up and call the number on the back of your card.

Read the full alert: https://endscamsproject.com/latest-scams/bank-imposter-payment-app-transfer-scam

Where this comes from

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Bank verification code scams

More recent alerts

This alert provides general educational information drawn from the sources above. It cannot determine whether a specific message you received is genuine, investigate an incident, or promise recovery or reimbursement.

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