Account Takeover Fraud Is on the Rise – Here’s How to Stay Protected
Thursday, Dec 11, 2025- Resource Center
- Account Takeover Fraud Is on the Rise – Here’s How to Stay Protected
The FBI is warning consumers and businesses about a sharp rise in Account Takeover (ATO) fraud, where criminals impersonate banks to steal money or personal information. Since January 2025, more than 5,100 complaints have been filed, with losses topping $262 million. Criminals often use emails, calls, texts, or fake websites to trick victims into giving up passwords or one-time passcodes, then move quickly to lock victims out and transfer funds.
Most attacks are fake urgent messages about supposed fraudulent activity, fake support calls or phishing websites that look nearly identical to real banking pages. Some criminals even use ads that mimic legitimate search results, a tactic known as “SEO poisoning,” to lead victims to fraudulent login pages.
To protect yourself, use strong, unique passwords, enable multi-factor authentication and rely on bookmarks rather than search results to reach login pages. Be cautious of unexpected messages or calls claiming to be from your bank and contact your institution directly if something feels off. If you suspect ATO fraud, reach out to your bank immediately, reset compromised credentials and submit a report to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center.
For further details, please see the FBI’s official article on the recent rise of Account Takeover Fraud:












