Protect yourself from scams
Protect yourself from scams
Learn how to spot a potential scam and safeguard your financial well-being.
Protect yourself from scams
Learn how to spot a potential scam and safeguard your financial well-being.
Recognize and report scams
Scammers use different tactics to get victims to fall for their schemes. In some cases, they can be friendly, sympathetic and seem willing to help. In others, they use fear tactics to persuade a victim. Learn about the different scam tactics, and what to do if you suspect suspicious behavior.
Common red flags
Scams start with someone you don’t know
Scams often use fake emails, text messages, voice calls, letters or someone who shows up at your front door unexpectedly.
TYPES OF SCAMS
Tech support
Be cautious if someone randomly reaches out, requesting either payment or remote access to fix computer defects or malware.
Impersonation
Make sure you’re speaking to someone legitimate, as scammers pose as companies (like Capital One) to request personal info or payment.
Online shopping
Research sellers from ads & social media marketplaces. Notice red flags like prices too good to be true or unfamiliar links.
Payment
Be wary if you’re asked to make a purchase with the promise of compensation, or if someone offers to make a payment for you.
Employment
Be aware of deceptive job applications promising enticing perks like fully remote work that may ask for your personal information.
Romance scams
Be aware if you are asked for financial support from a partner in a relationship that’s been exclusively online.
Avoid scams and safeguard your finances
When in doubt, hang up the phone and call us at the number listed on the back of your debit or credit card.
Fraudsters will try to spoof the number calling you to appear as if it is coming from Capital One.
If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Be wary of "get rich quick" or "easy money" schemes, especially if unsolicited.
Verify SMS text or email origins.
Scammers may target you with text messages to gain sensitive information. Verify the SMS texts or emails are coming from the usual Capital One email domain and short code (a 5 or 6 digit phone number that is used to send text messages at scale).
Resist the pressure to act immediately.
While high-pressure sales tactics are also used by some legitimate businesses, it typically isn't a good idea to make important financial decisions quickly. Take your time. Where your finances are concerned, you should have space to make the best decision for you and talk it over with those you trust.
Reporting scams
Spotted a scam or worried you've been compromised?
1. Contact us at 1-800-227-4825. If you are outside the U.S., call us collect at: 1-804-934-2001.
2. Forward the email or text to abuse@capitalone.com so we can look into it on our end.
3. Report the scam to the BBB Scam Tracker and the government via the FTC ReportFraud site. You may also want to report scammers directly to the FBI.
Security tips
