The "safe account" scam: tech support, then your bank, then the government
Three callers in a row convince you your savings are at risk and must be moved to a safe account. The safe account is theirs.
How it works
It starts with a pop-up, text, or call from fake tech support saying your computer or account was hacked. They transfer you to someone posing as your bank, who confirms the "breach". Finally a fake government official tells you to move your money to a protected account, often pressuring you to keep it secret from family. This scam has drained more than a billion dollars, mostly from seniors, since 2024.
The tell: Anyone telling you to move your own money to a "safe account". Banks and governments never ask you to do that.
What to do
- Hang up. Banks and governments never ask you to move money to protect it.
- Never download software or give remote access because a caller told you to.
- Talk to someone you trust before moving any money. Secrecy is the scammer's main tool.
Sources
If this has already happened to you, our scam recovery visit can lock down your accounts and devices. And if you are just not sure whether something is a scam, asking us is always free.