Your phone rings.
The number looks local. Maybe your caller ID even says it’s Heartland Bank. The person on the other end knows the name of your bank, or even the name of a banker you know and trust.
Then comes the bad news.
“There’s suspicious activity on your account.”
“We need to verify a transaction.”
“Someone is trying to access your online banking.”
🚩 It sounds convincing. It feels urgent. And that’s exactly the point.
Scammers are increasingly using impersonation tactics and caller ID spoofing to make fraudulent calls appear legitimate. And unfortunately, seeing a familiar name or local phone number on your screen is no longer enough to prove who is actually calling.
Caller ID spoofing allows scammers to manipulate the information that appears on your phone when they call. A call originating anywhere could be made to look like it’s coming from a local phone number, or from a business you recognize.
One variation, sometimes called “neighbor spoofing,” uses a phone number with your local area code to increase the chances that you’ll answer.
But scammers can take it a step further.
They may impersonate your bank, its fraud department, or even a specific employee. They can use information available online or gathered through previous scams and data breaches to make their story sound more believable.
Knowing your banker’s name doesn’t make the caller your banker.
Remember that names, job titles, locations and other professional information may be publicly available. A scammer mentioning a real Heartland Bank associate—or another person you know—doesn't prove you're actually speaking with that individual.
Hang up. Find the bank's official contact information yourself. Then call your local branch.
Imagine receiving a call that appears to come from your local Heartland Bank branch.
They identify themselves as someone from the bank and say there has been suspicious activity on your account. They may already know your name or other basic information.
Then they tell you they need to “verify” your identity.
They might ask for your:
READ | Know What Heartland Bank Will Never Ask
They may sound professional, friendly and helpful. They might even tell you they’re trying to protect your money.
That’s what makes impersonation scams so dangerous: the scammer is using your trust in a legitimate person or organization against you.
Scammers don’t want to give you time to think.
They may tell you money is leaving your account right now. They may say your debit card has been compromised. They may insist you stay on the phone while they “secure” your account.
That sense of panic is designed to get you to react before you verify what’s happening.
If something feels wrong, hang up. Don't respond.
You won't offend us. Seriously.
If someone calls claiming to be from Heartland Bank and you aren't completely comfortable with the conversation, end the call and contact your local Heartland Bank directly using a phone number you already know or independently obtain from our official website.
Do not simply call the number back from your recent calls list. If the original number was spoofed, seeing a familiar number on your screen doesn't confirm who actually called you.