Learn to Spot a Bank Impersonation Scam

Picture this: Someone calls you, saying they are from First Merchants fraud department or your local branch and need to verify a transaction. The number appears to be from our bank, the caller seems well-informed, and you expect us to alert you to potential fraud, right?

Be careful—this could be a scammer. If you suspect you’re talking to a bad actor, it’s best to hang up and call us directly. Bank impersonation scams can be very convincing and sound like legitimate First Merchants Bank teammates.

Look out for red flags:

• The caller asks for your Online Banking username, password, security code, or other non-public information—We may ask questions to verify your identity, but we won’t ever ask for your credentials or private information.
• They discourage you from hanging up and try to pressure you into acting urgently. First Merchants will not call and pressure you to act on something immediately.
• They ask you to respond with a texted verification code. These codes are for you to verify your identity in automated authentication systems. You should never share them with someone on the phone.

If you think a scammer has targeted you and you have provided private information about your First Merchants accounts—like account numbers, PINs, usernames, passwords, or one-time security codes—contact us immediately at 1.800.205.3464.