Trust Your Gut: How Scammers Use Fear to Trick You

Scammers rely on emotional manipulation to pressure people into acting fast—before they can think clearly. Fear is one of their favorite tools. 

How Fear-Based Scams Work 

You might get a message that says: 

  • “Your account has been locked. Act now!” 
  • “Unauthorized transaction detected! Click here to stop it.” 
  • “Law enforcement action pending unless you respond!” 

These scams are designed to shock you into quick action—before you pause to question if it’s real. 

Why Slowing Down Works 

Scammers don’t want you to think. The more time you take to investigate, the more likely you are to spot red flags: 

  • Typos or unusual wording 
  • Suspicious-looking links or unfamiliar phone numbers 
  • Requests for urgent action or sensitive data 

What You Should Do 

  • Pause before clicking. Take a breath. Don’t act immediately. 
  • Trust your instincts. If something feels off, it probably is. 
  • Contact your bank directly. Never use contact info from the suspicious message. 
  • Educate Yourself and Others: Stay informed about common scams and share this knowledge with friends and family to help protect them as well! 

Want to build your scam-spotting skills? Check out the American Bankers Association’s Banks Never Ask That campaign.