Has Someone Told You What to Say to Your Bank When You Withdraw Money?

Short answer: yes, it is a scam. Anyone who tells you to withdraw money and gives you a story to tell your bank is a criminal. Real banks and police will never ask you to hide the truth from bank staff.

How the scam works

It usually starts with a phone call, a text, or a pop-up on your computer saying your device has been hacked. Then someone calls pretending to be from your bank's fraud team, the police, or a government agency. They say your account has been compromised, that money has been taken, or even that someone at your own bank is involved in fraud.

To "protect" your money, they tell you to withdraw cash, buy gift cards, or send money or crypto somewhere "safe". Then comes the key part: they give you a cover story to tell the bank teller if you are asked why you want the money, such as a home repair, a car, or a gift for family. They tell you to keep it secret, and to act fast.

The money then disappears. A courier comes to your home to collect the cash, you are told to put it into a crypto machine, or it goes to an account the criminals control.

What banks and police are warning about

In October 2026, Patriot Federal Credit Union in the US warned its members about this exact pattern: being told to keep a withdrawal private, being told to move money for safekeeping, pressure to act right away, and being given scripted answers to give a bank teller. In June 2026, police in Pearisburg, Virginia warned that a caller pretending to be from a bank told a victim to withdraw cash for a fake "sting operation". A courier then came to the victim's home and took the money. Police in the UK have warned about the same trick, with callers pretending to be police officers.

Warning signs

1. Someone tells you what to say to the bank, or tells you not to mention them.
2. You are asked to keep it secret, even from your family.
3. You are told your money must be moved, withdrawn, or "protected". Real banks never ask this.
4. They say bank staff are involved in the fraud, so you shouldn't trust them.
5. You are asked to buy gift cards, use a crypto machine, or hand cash to a courier.
6. There is pressure to act right now, and they want to stay on the phone with you.

What to do

1. Hang up. It is fine to end the call, even if the caller says you are in trouble or your money is at risk.
2. Call your bank yourself, on the number on the back of your card. If you can, use a different phone, because scammers can sometimes keep a line open.
3. Never hand cash or cards to anyone who comes to your door to "collect evidence" or "keep it safe".
4. Tell bank staff the truth if they ask why you are withdrawing money.
5. Talk to someone you trust before you move any money. Scammers rely on you keeping it secret.

If you already handed over money

1. Call your bank immediately and tell them what happened. Ask them to block cards and watch your accounts.
2. Report it to the police, especially if someone came to your home. Write down anything you remember about them.
3. Expect follow-up calls. Scammers often come back pretending to help you recover the money. Hang up on them too.

The rule is simple: if anyone tells you to lie to your bank, they are not trying to protect your money. They are trying to take it.

Sources: Franklin County Free Press: Patriot FCU highlights cash withdrawal scam warning signs · WSLS: Pearisburg police warn of scammers posing as bank officials