An unexpected call says someone is trying to access your bank account. The number on your screen even matches the one printed on your debit card. You are told to withdraw your money to protect it. Then a rideshare arrives to collect the cash.
CBS Baltimore reported the scheme on October 20 after speaking with Anne Arundel County Police. Police described people being pressured to make withdrawals and pickups arranged through rideshare services. Individual incident dates, the number of affected residents, and a total loss were not disclosed. This is a new local warning about an established fraud pattern, not proof that the tactic began this week.
Sources: CBS Baltimore
A matching bank number can be faked
Police said some people reported that the incoming caller ID matched the number on their debit cards. That apparent match can feel convincing during a warning about supposed account theft.
Caller ID is not an identity check. Criminals can spoof a number, making a call appear to come from your bank. Wells Fargo warns that even a familiar displayed number can be falsified. End the call and begin a separate conversation through a trusted number.
Sources: CBS Baltimore · Wells Fargo
Four requests that should end the conversation
Wells Fargo warns against moving money or withdrawing cash at the direction of an unexpected bank caller. Actual account problems should be handled through separately verified banking channels.
- A supposed bank worker demands an immediate cash withdrawal.
- You are told to stay on the call instead of independently contacting the bank.
- The caller tells you to keep the conversation secret.
- A driver or courier is being sent to collect the cash.
Sources: CBS Baltimore · Wells Fargo
How to check without following the caller
Disconnect.
Hang up before withdrawing money, sharing details, or agreeing to meet someone.
Contact the bank yourself.
Use the number on your physical card or your bank's official app. Ask whether the fraud alert exists.
Do not hand over money.
If someone arrives, avoid a confrontation. Call local police for help, or 911 if you feel immediately threatened.
Ask someone you trust.
A friend or relative can help you independently check the story.
Sources: Wells Fargo · CBS Baltimore · Anne Arundel County Police Department
If you already handed over cash or information
Contact your bank immediately through a verified number, describe the withdrawal and pickup, and ask how to secure your accounts. A cash handoff is difficult to reverse; recovery is not guaranteed. Change exposed passwords using the bank's real website or app.
Save your call log, withdrawal receipt and any safely observed details about the pickup. Report suspected fraud to local police and ReportFraud.ftc.gov. The FTC also recommends promptly contacting financial institutions after fraudulent payments.
You can look up or report a suspicious number on PhoneYa for community context. Never publish card information or the driver's private details. A lookup cannot authenticate a caller, and a spoofed number may belong to someone uninvolved.
Sources: Federal Trade Commission · Wells Fargo · Anne Arundel County Police Department
Sources & further reading
- CBS BaltimoreBank scam in Anne Arundel County has victims withdraw funds, then pick the money up at homes, police say · October 20, 2026
- Wells FargoIdentify and avoid bank imposter scams · undated guidance
- Federal Trade CommissionWhat To Do if You Were Scammed · June 2026
- Anne Arundel County Police DepartmentOfficial police department contact information · accessed October 21, 2026
By PhoneYa Editorial, based on the sources above.