Choose the situation that fits
You see a transaction you did not authorize
Contact the bank or credit union promptly through a trusted route and explain which transaction you do not recognize. Ask what account-protection and dispute steps apply. Do not assume that a message, caller, or search advertisement is the bank.
You shared account information or a verification code
End the unexpected contact. Reach the financial institution independently and explain exactly what was shared. Follow its current instructions for protecting the account and changing access credentials.
Someone claimed to be from your bank
Stop the call or conversation. Do not move money to a so-called safe account. Contact the bank through an official route you already trust and ask whether the warning was real.
You have a problem with how a financial company handled the issue
First use the company’s complaint or support process. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau also accepts complaints about covered consumer financial products and services and may forward them to the company for a response.
Save information privately
- The date and approximate time you noticed the problem
- The transaction description and amount
- The channel used by the caller or sender
- Any case or confirmation number provided by the bank
Other reporting routes may also fit
The FTC accepts consumer reports about scams and fraud. IC3 accepts complaints involving cyber-enabled crime. These reports do not replace contacting the financial institution, and none of these organizations can promise an investigation or recovery.
If identity information was used to open an account or commit identity theft, review the FTC’s official recovery guidance at IdentityTheft.gov.
Official sources
- CFPB: Unauthorized transactions or missing moneyOfficial information about notifying a bank or credit union and the rules that may apply. Last reviewed September 23, 2026.
- CFPB: Bank verification messagesOfficial guidance for suspicious emails or texts that claim to come from a financial institution.
- CFPB: Submit a complaintA route for problems involving covered consumer financial products and services. It is separate from reporting a scam to law enforcement.
- FTC ReportFraudOfficial consumer fraud reporting portal.
- FTC IdentityTheft.govOfficial recovery guidance for identity theft.