Spotting a Fake Bank Phone Call

📞 Scruffy’s Digital Journy —

Example: Spotting a Fake Bank Phone Call

Hi, I’m Scruffy. Christopher explained that fake phone calls are like trick voices pretending to guard your vault. At first, I thought every caller who said “I’m from the bank” was real. But Christopher reminded me: your bank will never ask you for your PIN, password, or full details over the phone. Let’s listen to an example together.

📞 Example of a Fake Phone Call

Caller: “Hello, this is your bank. We’ve noticed suspicious activity on your account. To protect you, I need you to confirm your PIN and online banking password right now. If you don’t, your account will be frozen immediately.”

🚨 Warning Signs in This Call

• Urgent language: “Your account will be frozen immediately” — designed to scare you.

• Requests for details: Asking for PINs and passwords — banks never do this.

• Pressure tactics: Caller insists you must act right away.

• Unfamiliar number: Call comes from a mobile or withheld number, not the bank’s official line.

• No option to verify: Caller discourages you from hanging up and calling back.

  
  

🔐 Scruffy’s Safety Rituals

• Hang up immediately if pressured.

• Call your bank directly using the number on your card or their website.

• Write down suspicious numbers in your notebook for awareness.

• Remember: Your bank will never ask for your PIN, password, or full security details.

  
  

🖱️ Scruffy’s Safety Challenge

"Christopher gave me a challenge to practice. You can try it too:"

1. Imagine receiving a call like the example above.

2. Practice saying: “I will call my bank directly” and hang up.

3. Write down the suspicious number in your notebook.

4. Call your bank’s official number to check if there’s really an issue.

   
   

✨ Scruffy’s Reflection   At first, I thought every caller who said “I’m from the bank” was safe. But Christopher reminded me: fake calls use urgency and tricks. For learners, that means you can stay safe by remembering one rule — your bank will never ask for your details. Scruffy guards the vault with you.

📞 Scruffy’s Banking Safety Reminder

• If you get a suspicious call, text, or email pretending to be from your bank:

  • Hang up immediately

  • Dial 159 — this connects you directly to your bank’s fraud team

  • Never call back on the number given in the suspicious message

Report, Protect, Safe

Report: Tell someone you trust . You don’t have to handle it alone.

Protect: Block, delete, or step away.Your boundaries matter.

Safe: You’ve reported, protected yourself, and now your safe.