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Urgent — act now

I got a call from "the bank / the police / a relative in danger". What do I do?

First, breathe. You have every right to hang up and check. Scammers rely on haste and fear — if you give yourself a few minutes and call back yourself on an official number, the trap almost always falls apart.

First steps, right now

  1. Hang up. It's not rude — it's the safest thing to do. No real institution punishes you for hanging up and calling back yourself.
  2. Call back yourself on the official number: the bank on the number on the back of your card, the relative on their known number, the institution on the number from its official website. Don't call back the number that called you.
  3. If you were asked for a code received by SMS, a password or your card details — you didn't give them? Good. You did? Call the bank immediately and block the card.
  4. If it's "a relative in danger who needs money right now", check directly with them or with another family member before any payment. A voice can be imitated, even with AI.
  5. If you've already sent money, call the bank (payment recall) and file a complaint with the Police (Poliția Română).

What NOT to do

  • Never give out the SMS code, your PIN, password or CVV over the phone — a real bank doesn't ask for them.
  • Don't install "remote access" apps (AnyDesk, TeamViewer) requested by the caller.
  • Don't let yourself be rushed. "It has to be now, or else..." is exactly their tool.

How to spot it next time

  • Urgency and secrecy: "don't tell anyone", "we have to act this very minute".
  • You're asked to move your money "to a safe account" or to hand over codes "to stop a fraud" — that is the fraud.
  • The voice sounds odd, with pauses or unnatural intonation (possibly cloned with AI), or the number displayed looks like the bank's but the call is unexpected.
  • Emotional pressure: fear, shame, pity ("grandpa is in hospital, he needs money").
  • A "police officer" or "prosecutor" who switches to WhatsApp and sends "badges", "summonses" or "orders" to look real. They are fakes — the police and prosecutors don't ask for money and don't work through WhatsApp.

This guide is meant to help you act fast. It does not replace official instructions from your bank, the police or the authorities. When in doubt, call the numbers above.