Fake bank fraud call switches to FaceTime — scammer watches you log in and empties your account
A caller posing as your bank's fraud team switches the call to FaceTime video and asks you to log into your bank account while they watch. They capture your full login, password, and one-time code in real time, then drain your account instantly.
Also known as: FaceTime bank scam, screen-share bank fraud, FaceTime banking credential theft, video call bank scam
Already happened to you? Do this in the next few minutes
- 1 Call your bank or card's fraud line right now. Use the number on the back of your card — not any number from the message or caller. Ask them to stop or reverse the payment and freeze the account.
- 2 If you paid by gift card, wire, or an app (Zelle, Venmo, Cash App): contact that company immediately and report it as fraud. Acting fast sometimes recovers the money.
- 3 Report to the FBI at ic3.gov and the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov. The sooner, the better.
What to do right now
- 1 Never log into your banking app, bank website, or any financial account while someone is watching on FaceTime or a video call
- 2 Hang up immediately if any caller — even someone claiming to be Apple or your bank — asks you to switch to FaceTime
- 3 Call your bank back using the number on the back of your card or in the official bank app — not any number given by the caller
- 4 If you logged in while someone watched and money was transferred, call your bank's fraud line immediately — speed is critical for a recall
- 5 If you received a suspicious FaceTime call, Apple asks you to screenshot it (tap Info → Take Live Photo) and email it to reportfacetimefraud@apple.com
- 6 Report to the FTC at https://reportfraud.ftc.gov and the FBI's IC3 at https://www.ic3.gov.
Red flags
- ⚠ Your bank will never call you and switch to FaceTime or any video call to 'verify' your identity
- ⚠ Any caller asking you to open your banking app or bank website while they watch on FaceTime or video is a scammer
- ⚠ Apple will never ask for your password, passcode, or two-factor authentication code on a FaceTime call
- ⚠ The caller may seem to know your name, bank name, or partial account details — this does not make them legitimate
- ⚠ You may receive a text about suspicious activity first, then a call — both are part of the same scam setup
- ⚠ The scammer may ask you to screen share or guide you to 'just show us your screen for verification'
Sources
- CBS News — Scammers are using FaceTime to steal bank account passwords (Jul 2026)
- Malwarebytes — Warning: Scammers are using FaceTime to empty bank accounts (Jul 2026)
- Help Net Security — FaceTime weaponized to drain bank accounts (Jul 17 2026)
- McAfee / Daily Hodl — Fraudsters Using FaceTime Bank Scam To Steal Passwords in Real Time (Jul 19 2026)
- Infobae — Alerta por estafas con FaceTime: así roban contraseñas bancarias en EE. UU. (Jul 16 2026)