--- title: What You Need to Know to Protect Yourself from Spoofing | AllSouth Federal Credit Union description: Spoofing is a cyberattack that happens when a scammer is disguises as a trusted source. 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Routing # 253279031 ![](https://blog.allsouth.org/hubfs/Spoofing%2012.16.21..jpg) # What You Need to Know to Protect Yourself from Spoofing Published by [AllSouth Federal Credit Union](https://blog.allsouth.org/author/allsouth-federal-credit-union) on October 21, 2026 at 3:54 PM If you have a phone or email account, you've likely received an unsolicited call, text, or message that could be a scam. Scammers keep developing new tactics to impersonate trusted businesses, steal personal information, and access financial accounts. One common tactic is spoofing, which lets scammers disguise their identity and make a communication appear to come from a legitimate source, including your financial institution. Recently, scammers have impersonated financial institutions and contacted members claiming their accounts have been compromised. They may instruct members to transfer money through payment services like Cash App or Apple Cash, or ask for a multifactor authentication code (MFA), which they then use to access the financial accounts of the institution they are impersonating. These are all serious warning signs of a scam. Understanding how spoofing works, recognizing common red flags, and knowing how to respond can help you protect your personal information and your money. ## **What is Spoofing?** Spoofing occurs when a scammer disguises their identity so a phone call, text message, email, or website appears to come from a trusted person or organization. Their goal is often to trick you into sharing sensitive information, sending money, or granting access to your accounts. Spoofing can happen through several channels, including: - Phone calls: Scammers manipulate caller ID to make a call appear to come from a familiar number, local business, or financial institution like AllSouth. - Text messages: Fraudulent messages may appear to come from a legitimate person or business and contain urgent requests or suspicious links. - Emails: Scammers may imitate a company’s branding, email address, or communication style to make a message seem legitimate. - Websites: Fake websites can resemble legitimate businesses to trick you into entering login credentials or financial information. Because scammers can manipulate caller ID and other identifying information, you cannot rely on the name or phone number displayed on your device to verify who is contacting you. ## **How Can You Spot and Stop a Spoofing Scam?** Spoofing scams often rely on urgency, fear, and impersonation to push you to act before you think things through.  Watch out for these common warning signs and what to do if you spot them: Unexpected claims that your account has been compromised. A caller may claim to be from a financial institution's fraud department and say they detected suspicious activity on your account. They may insist that you take immediate action to prevent your money from being stolen or lost. Don't assume the call is legitimate just because the caller ID appears to match the financial institution they claim to be. Hang up and call the organization using a verified phone number, such as the one on the back of your debit card or on its official website. Requests to transfer money through payment apps. A scammer may instruct you to move your money to another account or transfer your balance through apps like Cash App and Apple Cash to supposedly protect your funds. They may claim that this transfer is necessary to secure your account or prevent unauthorized transactions. Do not transfer money at a caller’s direction to supposedly protect it. These instructions are a major red flag, and a legitimate financial institution would never ask you to do this. Requests for MFA verification codes. Multifactor authentication adds an extra layer of security by requiring a verification code or other confirmation when you access an account or complete certain actions. A scammer may ask you to read them a code sent to your phone or email, claiming they need it to verify your identity or to stop fraudulent activity. Never share a one-time verification code with anyone. Giving a scammer this code could allow them to access your account or authorize a transaction. AllSouth employees will never ask you for this information. Pressure to act immediately. Scammers may warn that your account will be frozen, your money will be lost, or you will be held responsible for fraudulent activity unless you follow their instructions. They use fear and urgency to prevent you from verifying their claims. Do not let urgency influence your decisions. A legitimate concern about your account can be checked independently. Take time to verify the situation through trusted channels before acting. Requests for sensitive information. Be cautious if someone unexpectedly asks for your password, PIN, account credentials, or verification code. Even if the caller knows your name, phone number, or other personal details, that doesn't prove they represent your financial institution. Be especially careful about sharing your Social Security number, account numbers, passwords, PINs, and other sensitive information over the phone. AllSouth employees will never ask you for this information. Unusual instructions or requests for secrecy. A scammer may tell you not to contact your financial institution, discourage you from speaking with anyone else, or tell you to follow specific steps while you stay on the phone. These tactics are designed to keep you from discovering the fraud. If the person on the phone has an issue with you verifying their claims independently, it’s more than likely a spoofing scam. Hang up immediately, call the organization they’re impersonating using a verified phone number, and let them know what happened.  When in doubt, end the call immediately and contact your financial institution using a trusted number, such as the one on the back of your debit card or on its official website. Staying informed is another important part of protecting yourself. For current scam alerts and additional prevention tips, visit the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) [Scam Alerts](https://consumer.ftc.gov/scams) resource. You can also register your phone number with the [National Do Not Call Registry](https://donotcall.gov/). While registration may reduce legitimate telemarketing calls, it will not stop all scammers. ## **What Should You Do if You Spot a Spoofing Scam?** If you suspect a spoofing scam, stop communicating with the caller immediately. Do not share information, provide verification codes, or transfer money. If you believe your account or personal information may have been compromised, take these steps: 1. **Contact your financial institution immediately**. Use the verified number on your debit card or the institution's official website. Explain what happened and ask whether you need to take additional security measures. 2. **Secure your accounts**. If you shared a password or verification code, tell your financial institution immediately. Change compromised passwords, review recent transactions, and follow the institution’s guidance to secure your accounts. 3. **Contact the payment service if you sent money**. If you transferred funds through Cash App, Apple Cash, or another payment service, report the transaction to the provider immediately and ask whether it can be stopped or recovered. Recovery is not guaranteed, so act quickly. 4. **Report the scam**. File a report with the FTC. You can also report suspicious calls or messages to the appropriate service provider. If you are unsure whether a call or message is legitimate, it is always safer to stop and verify independently. ## **Protecting Yourself From Spoofing Scams** Scammers continue to find new ways to impersonate trusted organizations and exploit concerns about financial security. Remember that caller ID can be faked, scammers can find information about you online to make themselves seem trustworthy, and urgent warnings are not proof that your account is compromised. AllSouth members should never transfer money through a payment app or disclose a verification code to an unexpected caller claiming to protect their account. If you receive a suspicious call claiming to be from AllSouth, hang up and contact us at memberservice@allsouth.org or reach out to our Call Center at 803-736-3110 from 8 am to 5 pm (Monday-Friday). For more information about protecting your identity and finances, visit our [Security Center](https://www.allsouth.org/security-resources/).   Tags: [Security](https://blog.allsouth.org/tag/security) [Back to Blog](https://blog.allsouth.org) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) ## Related Articles ## [Scam-Proofing Your Holiday Season: Holiday Scams to Avoid](https://blog.allsouth.org/scam-proofing-your-holiday-season) The holiday season brings great deals, online shopping, charitable giving, and plenty of package... [Read More](https://blog.allsouth.org/scam-proofing-your-holiday-season) ## [6 Tips for Protecting Your Mobile Device](https://blog.allsouth.org/blogpost/6-tips-protecting-your-mobile-device) How often are you on your phone? According to CNET, the average person checks their phone 52... 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