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“Other than a different web address, you really can’t tell that they’re fake,” explains Aaron Foss, founder of Nomorobo, a security company that specializes in blocking robocalls and spam

text messages for its clients. “They use fear to get people to quickly tap on the link and not look at the URL too closely.” The object in such cases is to steal victims’ login credentials

and other personal data. Bank impersonation robocalls, meanwhile, aim to connect victims to a live scammer, who then carries out the scams noted above. Or sometimes the criminal on the phone

will tell victims to download remote-access software, which people don’t realize will actually give the scammers access to their computers, Foss says. HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF AGAINST BANK

TEXT SCAMS BUSINESS IMPERSONATION SCAMS NEVER CLICK ON LINKS. If you get an email or a text claiming to be from your bank, don’t click on the link it provides (even if you’ve signed up for

text alerts). Instead, go to the bank’s website. Use the URL listed on your statements or that you’ve previously bookmarked, and check for any alerts on your account. HANG UP. Then contact

your bank in a way you know to be legitimate, either online or by calling the phone number on your statement or debit card. NEVER PROVIDE ACCOUNT DATA OR PERSONAL INFO. As the American

Bankers Association’s banksneveraskthat.com website reminds consumers, banks don’t ask for your account number, PIN or password during a phone call or in a text or email — and will never

ask for a one-time login code. Never share such confidential details unless you’ve called the number on the back of your bank card. DON’T RELY ON CALLER ID. Scammers can use technological

tricks to display actual bank phone numbers or even the name of the bank. BE WARY OF A MESSAGE OR CALLER INSISTING THAT YOU TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION. Scammers try to pressure you to act

quickly, to make it more difficult for you to think clearly. WHEN IN DOUBT, SEEK ASSISTANCE. If you’re unsure what to do in response to what appears to be an alert from your bank, stop and

ask a trusted person — a friend, family member or coworker — to help you.   HOW TO REPORT BANK IMPERSONATION SCAMS NOTIFY YOUR FINANCIAL INSTITUTION OF THE OCCURRENCE. Include a screenshot

of the text. (Here’s how to create one.) If you lose money to this scam, contact your bank immediately — it may be able to halt the transaction.   FILE A POLICE REPORT. The documentation may

be of value if there is some means of recouping your loss. For example, some home insurance providers offer fraud loss protection. FILE REPORTS WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. The FTC and the

FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center use fraud reports to target their investigations. The more information they have, the better they can identify patterns, link cases and ultimately catch

the criminals. Contact the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov and the FBI at IC3.gov. CALL THE FREE AARP FRAUD WATCH NETWORK HELPLINE. Call 877-908-3360 to speak with trained specialists who can

provide support and guidance on what to do next and how to avoid scams. The AARP Fraud Watch Network also offers online group support sessions.