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That Call That Your Bank Account Is Being Hacked? It’s Fraud.

Impostor scams were the most common form of consumer fraud in Alaska in 2025, according to the Federal Trade Commission.

Teresa Holt,

AARP Alaska

A person holds a smartphone displaying a “Scam Alert” message on an incoming call screen. The dark interface clearly indicates a fraud warning, conveying concerns about cybersecurity, mobile fraud, and digital safety. The indoor environment and close-up composition highlight the immediacy and relevance of online threat awareness in everyday mobile use.

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Impostor scams were the most common form of consumer fraud in Alaska in 2025, according to the Federal Trade Commission. Many impostor scams involve criminals pretending to be bank fraud investigators, who first send a text questioning account activity. Read on to see how this plays out.

How It Works

You receive a text message that appears to be from your bank, asking for confirmation that recent activity on your account was legitimate.
When you reply “no,” you receive a call, seemingly from your bank’s “fraud investigations unit,” informing you that your account is being hacked.
Based on the earlier text message, apparently from your bank, and the caller sharing information your bank would know, you comply with the steps they outline to “protect your assets.”

What You Should Know

Any time you get an immediate call from your bank following a text like this, it is a fraud attempt. This is because the transaction noted in the text message isn’t identified by a human – it is identified through machine learning, algorithms, and other bank fraud controls.
It seems so real because the criminals have information about you and your account, which they may have bought from other hackers or accessed through data breaches.
When the scammers convince you that there is an active attack and that you need to move your money to protect it, they are siphoning those assets.
This crime can wipe out bank accounts, and, sadly, the bank is not responsible for making the victim whole because the funds were moved voluntarily, albeit through deception.

What You Should Do

Do not engage with a call from your “bank” following a text questioning an account transaction.
If you are concerned, contact your bank in a way you know to be valid – using a number on a recent statement, or by logging in to your online account or app.
If this happens to you or a loved one, contact your bank immediately to see if they can halt the transaction.
Report it to local or federal law enforcement; even if they do not investigate, this is your proof if future compensation is available to victims.

Remember, if you can spot a scam, you can stop a scam! You can also report fraud through the AARP Fraud Watch Network’s Helpline, a free resource for members and nonmembers, at 877-908-3360, and online through the AARP Fraud Watch Network scam-tracking map. For more information about these and other resources, visit aarp.org/fraud.