Your bank account is compromised
If you think someone has access to your bank account - after sharing a login, OTP, or details - contact your bank immediately using the number on your card, secure your login, and watch for transfers. Banks can freeze access, reverse some payments if caught quickly, and reissue credentials.
Quick answer
If you think someone has access to your bank account - after sharing a login, OTP, or details - contact your bank immediately using the number on your card, secure your login, and watch for transfers. Banks can freeze access, reverse some payments if caught quickly, and reissue credentials.
- Log in (if safe) to check for unfamiliar payees or transfers.
- Call your bank to report possible unauthorised access.
- Note any suspicious transactions with dates and amounts.
Do this now
- Call your bank's fraud team using the number on your card.
- Ask them to secure the account and review recent activity.
- Change your online banking password and enable app-based 2FA.
Understanding what happened
If you believe someone has access to your bank account, the bank is your fastest ally - they can freeze access, block payments, and often reverse fraud caught quickly. Calling the number on your card before doing anything else is the single most effective step.
Compromise usually follows a shared login, OTP, or a convincing 'fraud team' call. The tell-tale manipulation is being told to move money to a 'safe account' or to read out a code - both are scams, because no genuine bank ever asks for either.
What's at risk is money and the account's settings: attackers add new payees, change contact details, or set up rules to hide their activity. Reviewing and removing anything unfamiliar, and resetting your credentials, locks them out even if they got in.
Speed is decisive for recovery - many unauthorised payments can be challenged when reported immediately. Afterwards, keep monitoring statements, watch related accounts and email for the same compromise, and ignore any follow-up 'recovery' offers.
First 5 minutes
- Log in (if safe) to check for unfamiliar payees or transfers.
- Call your bank to report possible unauthorised access.
- Note any suspicious transactions with dates and amounts.
First 24 hours
- Confirm the account is secured and credentials reset.
- Dispute unauthorised transactions and ask about recall options.
- Remove any payees, rules, or device access you didn't set up.
Next 7 days
- Monitor statements daily and keep alerts on.
- Check linked accounts and email for related compromise.
- Follow up on any fraud case references.
What not to do
- Do not move money to a 'safe account' if someone tells you to - that's a scam.
- Do not share new OTPs or passwords with any caller.
- Do not delay - speed improves the chance of recovering funds.
Evidence to save
- Lists of unfamiliar transactions and payees.
- Screenshots of any scam message or call details.
- Fraud case reference numbers from your bank.
How to report
- Gather your evidence first (screenshots, dates, amounts, any reference numbers).
- Report to your national fraud/cybercrime body and, if money moved, to your bank.
- Find the right official links for your country in the reporting directory.
Find official reporting links for your country in the reporting directory.
- Do not use phone numbers or links from the suspicious message - look up the official ones yourself.
- Report quickly if money was sent or ID documents were shared; speed improves your options.
- Keep your evidence - see how to save scam evidence.
Beware 'recovery' offers afterwards: anyone who contacts you promising to get your money back for an upfront fee is running a second scam.
Stop it happening again
Use a unique password and app-based two-step verification for banking, and turn on transaction alerts so you spot anything instantly.
Call your bank only on the number printed on your card, and never log in through a link in a message.
Related scam types
Related red flags
Related terms
This is general safety information, not legal, financial, or cybersecurity incident-response advice.
Frequently asked questions
Will the bank tell me to move money?
Never. A genuine bank never asks you to move money to a 'safe account'. That instruction always signals a scam.
Can I get unauthorised payments back?
Often, if reported quickly. Contact your bank's fraud team immediately and dispute the transactions.
My bank says move money to a 'safe account' - real?
Never. That instruction is always a scam. Hang up and call the number on your card to check.