The American Bankers Association recently published the article “A Close Call with Fraud” by Kelsey Havemann (ABA Banking Journal, September 8, 2025). Haverman works in financial education for the ABA, and the article details her first-hand experience with fraudsters attempting to compromise her financial information. The scam that was especially convincing and illustrates how financial education helped her avoid being defrauded.
An Unexpected Call
Haverman received a call that appeared to be from her bank’s fraud department. The caller knew transaction dates and amounts, including one from a store she recognized and another she didn’t. The caller said these charges weren’t hers and offered to cancel her card and issue a new one.
During the call, the scammer asked her to verify her name (which she did), her card’s expiration date (which she also gave), and then asked her to share the rest of her card number after giving her the first eight digits. That request triggered her “Banks Never Ask That” instinct.
When pressed for the full card number, she refused, saying she’d hang up and call the bank back using contact info she trusted (the number on the back of her card, or the bank’s official website) rather than what the caller provided. The scammer tried to persuade her by pointing out the caller ID showed her bank name and that the number matched her bank’s number (which can be spoofed). When she continued to refuse to provide the information, the scammer became frustrated and hung up.
Haberman reflects on how well-built the scam was — proper dates, amounts, partial info — and how caller ID spoofing helps make scams seem legitimate. The turning point was the financial education she and others receive through her job with the ABA and the ABA Foundation. Because she knew what red flags to look for (requests for full card numbers, pressure, caller ID claims), she recognized the scam.
Key takeaways from the article:
- Scams are becoming more sophisticated. Caller ID is no longer ‘proof’.
- Don’t share confidential info in response to unprompted calls/texts/emails about accounts.
- Have boundaries and don’t be afraid to say ‘no’.
- Don’t be afraid to hang up and call back via a known number or contact method.
- Continually educate yourself on the latest scam techniques.
If you have questions about this scenario or any other fraud related situations, please don’t hesitate to contact us. You can also visit our Security and Fraud Prevention pages for individuals and businesses.