A scam I almost fell for.

[Croney]

I got a text Security Alert saying a hold had been put on my bank account, naming the correct bank. It gave an 877 number to call for assistance. I almost did, because I assumed it was related to the "gift letter" we signed last week, pledging money to help our granddaughter with the down payment on a house she is trying to buy.

I logged onto my bank account and there was no hold. I googled the number that the text actually came from, and there are many scam reports on it.

It seems like too much of a coincidence. Maybe there are shady people at mortgage companies who sell info to crooks. I'll bet a lot of people fall for it.

[snowybirdie]

1. Thank you

We can't be too careful these days.

[Croney]

3. So true!

[uriel1972]

6. Actually I was...

What I thought was a scam turned out to be a link to an important form for my disability insurance

[question everything]

2. NEVER follow "instructions" from a phone call or an email

You did right in checking the bank site.

Even when an email seems OK, with the "correct" logo of an institution, never click on it. Go directly to the site.

And if you have a URL address, type it directly into the browser window. Don't try to go there via google.

[Croney]

4. Yep. The fact that it was a text to my cell is what made it seem legit.

But we know how smart the bastards are.

[dixiegrrrrl]

5. May be a co-incidence

that scam has been around for awhile, as you noted by the reports about it.
It also comes in robo-call flavors, I've gotten quite a few recorded messages about a bank problem, and a Medicare and/or Soc.Sec. problem.
the 877 is involved.