A caller says there is a fraudulent transaction on your bank account. The number on your screen may even look like the bank. Then the caller offers to transfer you to the fraud department and tells you to enter a short phone code.
That last step can be the trap. Queen Anne’s County, Maryland, officials warned on September 23 that scammers are posing as bank representatives and using call forwarding to redirect victims’ incoming calls. The warning, reported by WGMD, does not identify a specific incident date, victim count, or loss total. The tactic itself is not new, but the local warning shows it is still being used.
Sources: WGMD
What the call-forwarding trick does
The sheriff’s warning describes a caller who claims an account has fraudulent activity, then says the customer must be transferred to a fraud department. The caller instructs the target to use *72 as part of that supposed transfer.
On services where that code activates call forwarding, incoming calls can be sent elsewhere instead of reaching the customer. AT&T, for example, documents *72 as a call-forwarding code for its Home Phone service. Flagstar notes that phone services can use other forwarding codes, so the exact behavior can vary by carrier and device.
The important point is not the code itself. It is the caller asking you to change how your phone routes calls. That can give the impostor a chance to receive automated verification calls or password-reset calls that were intended for you.
“Flagstar will never ask you to dial *72 or set up call forwarding of any kind.”
Why the bank story can feel believable
The scam combines two familiar things: a fraud alert and a bank transfer. Caller ID can also be spoofed, so the displayed number may look legitimate even when the person speaking is not from the bank.
The Federal Trade Commission says an unexpected caller may know your name, address, or account-related information and still be an impostor. Its January 2026 guidance recommends ending the call and contacting the company yourself through its official app, website, a recent statement, or the number on the back of your card.
A real fraud department does not need an unexpected caller to control your phone settings before you can verify an account problem. Pressure to dial a star code, keep the call secret, share verification codes, or follow a caller-supplied number is a reason to stop.
Sources: WGMD · Federal Trade Commission
How to verify a bank call safely
Hang up first. Open the bank’s official app or type the bank’s known website yourself, or use the number printed on your card or recent statement. Ask whether there is actually a fraud alert on the account.
Do not use the callback number supplied during the suspicious call, and do not assume a matching caller ID proves who called. If the bank confirms there is a real problem, continue through the bank’s verified channel rather than returning to the original caller.
PhoneYa can add community reports and context around a number, but that context cannot authenticate a caller. Spoofed numbers can belong to real businesses or real people.
Sources: Federal Trade Commission · WGMD
If you already followed the instructions
Contact your phone carrier promptly and ask it to check whether call forwarding is active and how to disable it on your specific service. Do not rely on a universal cancellation code because forwarding controls can differ by carrier and product.
Contact your bank through a verified channel and tell it what happened. Review account activity, secure online banking and email passwords, and look for password-reset attempts or other account changes you did not make.
Save the caller information, call log, voicemails, and any messages before deleting them. The Queen Anne’s County warning recommends reporting the scam to local law enforcement. Suspected fraud can also be reported to the FTC.
Sources: Flagstar · WGMD · Federal Trade Commission
Sources & further reading
- WGMDWarning Issued About Phone Scam Using Call Forwarding · September 23, 2026
- FlagstarProtect yourself from the *72 call forwarding scam
- AT&THome Phone Calling Features and Star Codes · updated April 16, 2025
- Federal Trade CommissionHow to handle unexpected calls that claim your money is at risk · January 2026
By PhoneYa Editorial, based on the sources above.