Scammers are flooding phone lines with deceptive calls pretending to be from Bank of America, warning victims about alleged unauthorized purchases at Target. These calls typically claim that a transaction — often around $319.25 — has been declined, urging recipients to press a number or call a provided phone line immediately. The goal? To create a false sense of urgency and trick individuals into divulging personal or financial information.
These bogus calls use spoofed caller IDs and scripted messages to mimic legitimate Bank of America alerts, but none of the information is accurate. They often direct victims to call back a scam-controlled number like 1-833-225-5516, where fraudsters may pose as bank representatives. Once engaged, scammers attempt to extract sensitive data such as credit card numbers, social security details, or login credentials.
It’s important to never respond to unsolicited calls asking for personal or payment information. If you receive a suspicious call about your account, hang up and contact Bank of America directly using official contact information from their website or your bank statements. Remember, real financial institutions will never pressure you to act immediately over the phone or request confidential details without verification.
💡 Heads-up: Similar Scams Are Everywhere. The Bank of America Target Purchase scam is not unique. It is one of many fake supplements, gadgets, and other schemes we expose in our Fact Checks section. All of them aim to grab your personal data or money. The people behind these scams run slick websites, spread bogus promo codes, and even pose as trusted brands or experts. Below are a few recent scams: PetsBoro Bunny Pal, Laellium Weight Loss Support, Torrid Clearance Sale, Blood Vitals Glucose Monitor, CoreCare Posture Corrector.
Table of Contents
📞 How the Bank of America Target Purchase Scam Operates
The Bank of America Target Purchase Scam is a fraudulent scheme where scammers impersonate a legitimate bank to trick victims into confirming bogus transactions. 🚨 It revolves around fake phone calls warning about unauthorized purchases at Target, prompting people to respond or call fraudulent numbers controlled by the scammers.
A typical Bank of America Target Purchase scam call goes as follows: 🔗 Step-by-Step Breakdown of the Scam: Scammers place automated or live calls claiming Bank of America declined a suspicious purchase, usually citing amounts like $319.25 from “target.com”. The caller urges recipients to press a number to confirm or denies the transaction, creating urgency and anxiety. To appear legitimate, these scam calls often use spoofed phone numbers that mimic official bank contact numbers, increasing trust and lowering suspicion. The call instructs the recipient to press a number if they recognize the purchase or to call a different phone number if they don’t. This pressure tactic aims to get victims off guard and acting quickly without verifying the call’s authenticity. When victims call back, they reach scammers posing as Bank of America representatives. These fake agents may ask for sensitive personal information, bank account details, or even payment information under the pretense of “protecting your account” or “blocking the fraudulent transaction”. The primary goal is to obtain the victim’s confidential information to commit identity theft, drain bank accounts, or make unauthorized purchases. Bank of America is not involved in these calls. The mentioned purchase at Target is fabricated, and the phone numbers provided are controlled entirely by fraudsters. The scam creates a false impression that the bank is protecting your finances, leveraging brand trust to get people to lower their guard. Scammers often discourage victims from verifying the call through official Bank of America channels or checking their actual bank statements until after damage is done. Even if victims comply, no legitimate purchase is blocked because the transaction does not exist. Those tricked into sharing sensitive data risk unauthorized withdrawals, fraudulent charges, and long-term identity theft issues. If you find yourself ensnared by the Bank of America Target Purchase Phone Scam, immediate action is crucial. Here’s what you should consider doing: The first step is to halt any additional transactions that might be in process. Contact your bank or credit card provider and inform them that you’ve fallen victim to a scam. They can help by blocking the card or reversing any unauthorized transactions. File a report with your local police and provide all the available evidence, such as screenshots, emails, and website URLs. Additionally, report the scam to online portals like the Better Business Bureau (BBB) at www.bbb.org or the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at reportfraud.ftc.gov. If you’re in another country, reach out to your national consumer protection agency. Before the scam website gets taken down or changes, make sure to capture screenshots of your transactions and communications. These can serve as evidence if you decide to pursue legal action. Speak to a legal advisor about your situation. While pursuing legal action may be time-consuming and costly, it could be a possible avenue for recovering your lost money. Use social media platforms to share your experience and warn others about the scam. Your story could prevent someone else from falling victim to the same or similar scams. The Bank of America Target Purchase Scam phone calls are a widespread fraud tactic designed to steal your personal and financial information. These calls use urgent and alarming messages, such as notifying you of a declined purchase at Target.com for amounts like $319.25, to pressure you into responding quickly without verifying the claim. The scammers instruct you to “press one” if you recognize the purchase or to call a provided number, which connects you to fraudsters posing as bank representatives. Instead of helping protect your account, these calls aim to trick you into divulging sensitive data — such as your bank account details, social security number, or credit card information — which can lead to identity theft and financial loss. Real Bank of America alerts will never pressure you to respond immediately over the phone or ask you to confirm purchases through suspicious numbers. Bottom Line: Stay vigilant against the Bank of America Target Purchase Scam calls. Never respond to unsolicited calls demanding immediate action or asking for personal details. If you receive such a call, hang up and directly contact Bank of America using the verified phone numbers found on their official website or your bank statement. Always verify suspicious transactions through trusted channels and never share your personal information on unconfirmed calls. Protect yourself by recognizing these scams and reporting them to the appropriate authorities.
📲 Initiating Fake Phone Calls
📞 Using Spoofed Numbers
⚠️ Prompting Immediate Response
📵 Redirecting to Fake Support Lines
💳 Stealing Personal and Financial Data
🚫 No Legitimate Bank Involvement
⚖️ False Sense of Security
🔐 Avoiding Verification
🛑 No Real Transaction Blocking
📉 Victims Suffer Financial Losses
In summary, the Bank of America Target Purchase Scam 🚫 fools victims with fake calls about bogus Target transactions. Scammers pressure recipients to respond or call back, hijack trust using spoofed numbers, and steal personal financial information. Always verify suspicious calls independently by contacting your bank directly using verified contact details before taking any action.
😱 What to Do If Scammed
🛑 Stop Further Transactions
📞 Report the Fraud
💻 Take Screenshots
⚖️ Consult Legal Advice
📢 Share Your Experience
Conclusion
