05/23/2026
🚨 SCAM ALERT SATURDAY: BANKING IMPERSONATION FRAUD
On April 14, 2026, a Denver resident walked into the District 3 station to report a fraud incident. The victim explained the he received a text message claiming a $1,000 transaction had been attempted on his account. The message asked the victim to reply "Y" to approve the transaction or "N" to deny it. Believing the alert to be legitimate, the victim replied “N,” indicating he did not recognize the transaction. Moments later, he received a call from a suspect posing as a representative from his bank. The suspect told the victim his account was being actively hacked and pressured him to stop what he was doing and immediately drive to his bank. While the victim traveled toward the nearest branch, he received another text message instructing him to provide his online banking username and password, which he did. Once he arrived, the suspect warned him not to trust bank employees and insisted he keep the call secret. Following the suspect’s instructions, the victim withdrew $9,500 in cash. He was then directed to go to another banking institution, open a new account, and provide his Social Security number and home address. The suspect claimed a new account had been created and attempted to guide him through depositing the cash using a “tap” feature at an ATM through a mobile wallet app. When the process did not seem right, the victim questioned the suspect. The suspect reassured him and said everything would be confirmed the next morning. The victim never heard from the caller again and later learned from his bank that the funds could not be reimbursed.
🔎 WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
• Banks will never ask for your username, password, or other login credentials by text or phone.
• Legitimate bank employees will never tell you to lie to or avoid other branch staff.
• Scammers often create a sense of urgency to keep you from thinking clearly.
• Caller ID can be faked.
• No bank will instruct you to withdraw cash, move money secretly, or complete unusual ATM tap deposits.
📞 IF YOU RECEIVE A MESSAGE OR CALL LIKE THIS:
• Contact the Denver Police Department at (720) 913 2000.
• Never share personal information such as your Social Security number, passwords, or account details with unknown callers.
• Report suspicious banking texts and calls to the Colorado Attorney General at stopfraudcolorado.gov.
• File reports involving financial impersonation scams at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
• If you are worried about your account security, call your bank using the number printed on your debit or credit card, not a number from a text.
Stay vigilant, stay informed, and help protect your community from fraud.
