Scams are constantly evolving—and one of the most common and damaging schemes today involves criminals impersonating bank employees. These “fake bank employee” scams are a top driver of consumer losses across the financial industry and remain one of the highest-impact fraud issues for financial institutions and their customers.

Understanding how these scams work—and knowing how to spot the warning signs—can help you protect your money and personal information.

What Are Fake Bank Employee Scams?

Fake bank employee scams occur when criminals pose as representatives from your bank—by phone, email, text message or even fake websites and mobile apps—to trick you into sharing sensitive information or sending money.

Scammers often claim there is suspicious activity on your account, such as an unauthorized ACH transfer or wire, and pressure you to act quickly. While the situation sounds urgent, the activity they reference typically hasn’t occurred at all.

To appear legitimate, fraudsters might:

• Spoof caller ID so the call appears to come from your bank’s official phone number
• Use realistic email addresses or text messages with bank branding
• Imitate bank employees using advanced AI voice technology
• Direct you to fake banking websites or mobile apps designed to capture login credentials

These tactics are becoming more sophisticated, making it harder to tell what’s real at a glance.

Why These Scams Are So Effective

Criminals rely on urgency and fear. By claiming your account is at risk, they push you to act before you have time to verify the request. In many cases, they ask for one-time passcodes, online banking credentials or other verification details—information your bank would never request unsolicited.

Because these scams impersonate trusted institutions, even vigilant customers can be caught off guard.

Red Flags to Watch For

Knowing what to look for can help you spot a scam before any damage is done. Be cautious if you receive a call, text or email that:

• Pressures you to act immediately
• Asks for online banking usernames, passwords or two-factor authentication codes
• Requests payment, wire transfers or gift cards to “secure” your account
• Directs you to click a link or download an unfamiliar app
• Claims to be from your bank but discourages you from calling back at a known number

If something feels off, trust your instincts.

How to Protect Yourself

There are several simple but powerful steps you can take to reduce your risk of falling victim to fake bank employee scams:

• Pause and verify. If you receive an unexpected message or call claiming to be from your bank, hang up and contact your financial institution directly using the phone number on your debit card, bank statement or an official website.
• Never share credentials. Your bank will never ask for your online banking password, full login credentials or one-time authentication codes.
• Use official channels only. Access online banking by typing your bank’s website directly into your browser or using the official mobile app downloaded from a trusted app store.
• Be cautious with links and downloads. Fake banking websites and apps are common tools used to capture login information. Always double-check website addresses and app developers.
• Report suspicious activity immediately. If you believe you’ve been contacted by a scammer or may have shared information, notify your bank right away.

Staying One Step Ahead

Scammers continue to adapt their tactics, but awareness remains one of the strongest defenses. By understanding how fake bank employee scams work and taking proactive steps to verify communications, you can help protect yourself—and your accounts—from fraud.

At Busey, your security is a top priority—and staying informed and cautious helps preserve your financial wellbeing. If you believe you’ve been the victim of fraud or a scam on a Busey account, contact our Customer Care team, reach out to your Relationship Manager, visit your local Banking Center to place a fraud alert on your account or follow these steps outlined by the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center. For more information, you can also read our Fraud Prevention FAQs, check out our Fraud Prevention Toolkit or view this new resource on the latest and most common trends in payments fraud.