“Your account is blocked” bank messages and calls

01A typical message

Example for illustration; real messages vary.

02Warning signs

• Urgency: your account is “blocked”, “frozen” or “at risk” and you must act now.
• A link to sign in, or a caller asking for your password, card PIN or the code your bank just sent you.
• A request to move your money to a “safe account”. No real bank does this.
• A caller ID or sender name that looks like your bank. These can be faked.

03What to do

• Hang up or ignore the message. Call your bank yourself on the number on the back of your card.
• Never share an SMS code: it is the key that approves a payment or a new device.
• Sign in only through your bank’s official app or by typing its address.

04Already clicked or replied?

1. Stop: do not enter anything else on that page and close it.
2. If you typed a password, change it now on the real site or app, and turn on two-step verification.
3. If you entered card details or approved a payment, call your bank on the number on your card and block the card.
4. If you installed an app from a link, delete it and scan your phone with a trusted security app.
5. Report it: forward scam SMS and links to your operator, and to your bank if it used their name.