Scammers are becoming more and more creative in their fraudulent schemes, making it increasingly difficult for people to protect themselves. Recently, a news anchor in Los Angeles inexplicably became a target of scam, but fortunately, he had a moment of clarity just in time to avoid financial loss.
CBS news anchor Matt Gutman shared his experience of being scammed on social media last Saturday. He received a phone call from someone claiming to be from the anti-fraud department of his bank, stating that his account was under attack and there was suspected serious fraudulent activity at the bank. They convinced him to withdraw all the funds from his account at a local bank branch and instructed him not to inform the bank, as the staff might be thieves.
Seeing that the caller had detailed personal information about him and sounded credible, appearing to want to help him resolve the issue, Gutman initially fell for the scam and went to the bank counter to make the withdrawal. However, in the process, he suddenly realized: why would the anti-fraud department use an ordinary civilian to handle legal matters? That’s when he realized he was being deceived.
Gutman revealed that he was very close to being swindled at that moment. He later discovered that scammers often operate in this manner. If the victim withdraws money and leaves the bank, the scammer may follow them and potentially rob them in the parking lot or elsewhere.
Responses to Gutman’s post highlighted the prevalence of such scams nowadays. One commenter shared that their mother had lost thousands of dollars, while another recounted a similar scam that nearly cost them $12,000. Another commenter stated, “I believe these things are happening every day.”
In another incident, an elderly person in Virginia also fell victim to a similar scam, resulting in a loss of tens of thousands of dollars.
According to local media reports from WTVR, the elderly individual received an urgent alert on their computer, informing them that someone was trying to hack into their bank account. They called a number they believed to be related to their bank, and the person on the line contacted them over 20 times, instructing them to withdraw and safeguard their deposits, claiming to help stop the hackers.
The elderly person withdrew $11,000 and followed the instructions to buy gift cards at multiple stores, providing the card numbers over the phone. After losing $11,500, when they were instructed to go to the bank to secure a $5,000 loan, they finally realized it was a scam. Upon contacting their bank, they learned there had been no suspicious activity on their account.
Investigation data from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) shows that in 2025, people incurred $3.5 billion in losses due to impersonation scams, triple the amount from 2020. This type of scam surpasses any other fraudulent activity, with close to a third of reported scams being related to impersonation.
Scammers use various channels such as text messages, phone calls, emails, social media, search engine results, and other methods to deceive consumers. Among these, phone impersonation scams result in the heaviest losses.
Based on tips from the FTC, Wells Fargo, and the National Council on Aging (NCOA), here are ways to avoid online or phone scams:
1. Do not answer calls from unknown numbers. If someone asks you for money or personal information over the phone, immediately hang up. If they demand payment via gift cards, it is definitely a scam.
2. Scammers often use pressure tactics, engaging you in lengthy calls and urging quick action. If you feel pressured to act immediately or are told to contact bank personnel, hang up. When feeling rushed, slow down and contact your bank through a trusted method (such as the phone number on the back of your bank card).
3. Do not rely on caller ID. If a call claims to be from a government agency or company, hang up and call back using the number on your bill or official website. Do not respond to text messages from unknown numbers or click on links, as scammers can falsify or mimic official phone numbers and send seemingly authentic emails.
4. Bank employees will not ask you to transfer money to anyone, including yourself, perform transactions like wire transfers or refunds, or take actions to safeguard your account funds.
5. If you receive an unsolicited verification code, do not use it or share it with anyone, even if they claim to be from your bank. Banks will not ask for your online banking password, four-digit ATM pin, issue one-time access codes, or request remote access to your computer.
It is crucial to remain vigilant and educate oneself on how to recognize and avoid falling victim to these deceitful schemes that can have devastating financial consequences. Stay alert and share this information with your loved ones to protect yourselves from falling prey to scammers.