Has that ever happened to you? You're scrolling through your inbox, and suddenly, an email pops up that looks just like it's from Bank of America. It might say something urgent, like "Your account has been locked!" or "Suspicious activity detected!" Your heart skips a beat, and your first instinct is to click that link and fix it, right? STOP! This is exactly how phishing scams work, and knowing what to do in that moment can save you a lot of trouble.
Reporting phishing emails to Bank of America is a crucial step in protecting yourself and helping others avoid falling victim to these elaborate scams. This guide will walk you through the process, step-by-step, and equip you with the knowledge to stay secure.
Step 1: Identify the Phishing Email – Don't Fall for the Bait!
Before you can report it, you need to be absolutely sure it's a phishing email. Phishing emails are designed to look legitimate, but they often have tell-tale signs. Get ready to put on your detective hat!
Sub-heading 1.1: Common Red Flags to Look For
- Generic Greetings: Does the email address you as "Dear Customer" or "Valued Client" instead of your actual name? Legitimate banks usually use your name.
- Urgent or Threatening Language: Phishers often create a sense of panic to make you act without thinking. Phrases like "Immediate action required," "Your account will be suspended," or "Security alert" are huge red flags.
- Suspicious Sender Address: Even if the sender name says "Bank of America," always check the actual email address. It might be something like "bankofamerica-support@scamdomain.com" or have subtle misspellings (e.g., "bankkofamerica.com").
- Poor Grammar and Spelling: While not always present, many phishing emails contain grammatical errors, typos, or awkward phrasing.
- Requests for Personal Information: Bank of America will never ask you for sensitive information like your full account number, PIN, Social Security Number (SSN), or online banking password via email or text message.
- Suspicious Links (Don't Click!): Hover your mouse over any links without clicking. Does the URL displayed in the hover text match the legitimate Bank of America website (bankofamerica.com)? If it's a strange, shortened, or misspelled URL, it's likely a scam.
- Unexpected Attachments: Never open unexpected attachments from emails, even if they appear to be from a trusted source. They could contain malware.
- Lack of Account Details: Legitimate emails from your bank often include some identifiable information related to your account, such as the last four digits of your account number (though not your full number or PIN).
Sub-heading 1.2: What to Do if You're Still Unsure
If an email looks suspicious but you're not entirely sure, do not click on any links or respond to it. Instead, open your web browser and navigate directly to the official Bank of America website by typing "bankofamerica.com" into the address bar. Log in to your account there and check for any alerts or messages. You can also call their official customer service number (found on their website or the back of your card).
Step 2: Take Immediate Action – Protect Your Account!
Once you've identified a phishing email, it's time to act swiftly and strategically.
Sub-heading 2.1: Do NOT Engage with the Email
- Do not reply to the email.
- Do not click on any links within the email.
- Do not download any attachments.
Sub-heading 2.2: Forward the Email to Bank of America
This is the primary way to report a phishing email to Bank of America.
- Open a new email in your email client (e.g., Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo Mail).
- Attach the suspicious email to this new email. Attaching the original email is crucial because it preserves the full email headers, which contain valuable information for Bank of America's security team to investigate the source of the phishing attempt. Do not simply forward it as a regular forward, as this can strip important header information.
- How to attach an email varies by email client:
- Gmail: Drag and drop the email from your inbox into the new email draft.
- Outlook: Right-click the suspicious email, select "More Actions" or "Move" > "Attach Item" > "Outlook Item," and then select the email.
- Other Email Clients: Look for options like "Attach Item," "Forward as Attachment," or "Save as File" (then attach the saved file).
- How to attach an email varies by email client:
- Address the new email to: abuse@bankofamerica.com
- You don't need to write a lengthy message. A simple subject like "Phishing Email Report" or "Suspicious Email" is sufficient. The most important thing is the attached original email.
- Send the email.
Step 3: If You Clicked or Provided Information – Act Immediately!
If, for any reason, you clicked on a link, downloaded an attachment, or worse, provided any personal or financial information, you need to take immediate, decisive action.
Sub-heading 3.1: Contact Bank of America by Phone
- Call Bank of America's fraud department immediately. Their general customer service number for deposit accounts (debit cards, checks, Zelle) and general inquiries is 1.800.432.1000.
- For consumer credit cards, call 1.800.421.2110.
- Explain the situation clearly: that you received a phishing email, potentially clicked on a link, and/or entered personal information.
- They will guide you through the next steps, which may include:
- Freezing or closing compromised accounts.
- Issuing new debit/credit cards.
- Monitoring your accounts for fraudulent activity.
Sub-heading 3.2: Change Your Passwords
- Change your Bank of America online banking password immediately. Choose a strong, unique password that includes a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.
- If you reuse passwords, change them for all other accounts where you used the same (or similar) password. This is a critical step, as scammers often try compromised credentials on other platforms.
Sub-heading 3.3: Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)
- If you haven't already, enable two-factor authentication (2FA) or multi-factor authentication (MFA) on your Bank of America account and any other online accounts that offer it. This adds an extra layer of security, requiring a second form of verification (like a code sent to your phone) in addition to your password.
Sub-heading 3.4: Scan Your Devices for Malware
- If you clicked on a link or downloaded an attachment, there's a risk of malware. Run a full scan with reputable antivirus and anti-malware software on your computer, phone, and any other devices that might have been affected.
Sub-heading 3.5: Monitor Your Accounts Closely
- Regularly review your Bank of America account statements and transaction history for any unauthorized activity. Set up alerts for unusual transactions if available.
- Consider obtaining your free credit reports from AnnualCreditReport.com to check for any suspicious new accounts opened in your name. You can place a fraud alert or a credit freeze with the three major credit bureaus (Experian, EquiFax, TransUnion) if you suspect identity theft.
Step 4: Report to Other Authorities (Optional, but Recommended)
While reporting to Bank of America is paramount, you can also report phishing attempts to other organizations.
Sub-heading 4.1: Forward to the Anti-Phishing Working Group (APWG)
- You can also forward the phishing email to the Anti-Phishing Working Group (APWG) at reportphishing@apwg.org. This helps them track and combat phishing trends globally.
Sub-heading 4.2: Report to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
- File a report with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. The FTC collects information about scams and uses it to investigate and prosecute cybercriminals.
Sub-heading 4.3: For Suspicious Text Messages (Smishing)
- If you receive a suspicious text message (also known as "smishing") purporting to be from Bank of America, you can forward it to SPAM (7726). This reports it to your mobile carrier.
Step 5: Stay Vigilant and Educate Yourself
The best defense against phishing is ongoing awareness.
Sub-heading 5.1: Review Bank of America's Security Center
- Regularly visit the Bank of America Security Center on their official website (
bankofamerica.com/security-center/
Sub-heading 5.2: Be Skeptical of Unexpected Communications
- Always be suspicious of unexpected emails, texts, or calls asking for personal information or urgent action, even if they seem to be from a trusted source.
- Remember: Bank of America will never ask you for your personal or account information (like your full account number, card PIN, or Social Security/Tax ID) via email, text message, or unsolicited phone calls.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How to identify a phishing email from Bank of America?
Look for generic greetings, urgent or threatening language, suspicious sender email addresses, poor grammar/spelling, requests for personal information, and links that don't lead to bankofamerica.com.
How to forward a phishing email to Bank of America correctly?
Open a new email, attach the suspicious email to it (do not just forward it), and send it to abuse@bankofamerica.com. This preserves the crucial email headers.
How to report a suspicious text message from Bank of America?
Forward the suspicious text message to SPAM (7726).
How to contact Bank of America's fraud department?
For general deposit accounts, call 1.800.432.1000. For consumer credit cards, call 1.800.421.2110. Always use numbers found on the official Bank of America website or the back of your card.
How to secure my Bank of America account after a potential phishing attack?
Immediately change your online banking password, enable two-factor authentication (2FA), and monitor your account activity closely.
How to check for malware after clicking a phishing link?
Run a full scan using reputable antivirus and anti-malware software on your device.
How to report identity theft if I've provided information to a phisher?
Contact your financial institutions, place a fraud alert or credit freeze with the three major credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax, TransUnion), and file a report with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
How to avoid future phishing scams?
Be vigilant, learn to recognize red flags, never click suspicious links or open attachments, and always verify unexpected communications by contacting the institution directly through official channels.
How to know if Bank of America will reply to my phishing report?
Bank of America states they will only reply to your message if they require additional information for their investigation. You likely won't receive a confirmation email for every report.
How to learn more about online security from Bank of America?
Visit the official Bank of America Security Center on their website (
