Thousands of Americans have recently received alarming text messages and robocalls claiming to be from Bank of America (BoA). The messages warn that a Target.com purchase was declined and instruct the recipient to call 1-833-225-5516 to resolve the issue.

This scam has quickly spread across multiple states, with reports mentioning calls from secondary numbers like 973-621-0060 and 973-230-0060, both pretending to represent Bank of America’s fraud department.

What’s Happening With the 1-833-225-5516 Scam?

Victims describe receiving automated calls or texts saying their BoA card was charged for a Target.com purchase. The message insists they must call the 1-833-225-5516 number to verify or cancel the transaction.

The catch? Many recipients don’t even have Bank of America accounts, which is a major red flag that the message is fake. Once a target calls the number, scammers posing as BoA representatives may attempt to collect personal or banking details, including full card numbers, security codes, or login credentials.

Such scams are designed to trigger panic and urgency, two emotions that push victims to react before thinking. It is a common hallmark of phishing and voice phishing (vishing) attacks. To understand how scammers use impersonation tactics like this, read our guide on what phishing is and how it works.

Caller Origin and Why It Looks “Legit”

The 833 area code is a real toll-free prefix used across the U.S. and Canada. That is why calls from these numbers may appear credible at first glance. However, scammers often spoof toll-free lines using VoIP systems to make their operations appear professional and trustworthy.

Since toll-free numbers are not tied to a city or region, tracking the exact location of these fraudsters is extremely difficult. Services like Truecaller or Telnyx can help identify suspicious activity, but they cannot guarantee real-time scam prevention.

If you ever wonder whether a company’s contact details are authentic, follow this guide on how to check if a website or business is legit.

Similarly, if you’ve come across online earning platforms and want to know whether they’re trustworthy, you can read our detailed Freecash scam review to see how to evaluate if such sites are genuine.

Real Bank of America Fraud Hotlines

To clarify, Bank of America’s real fraud reporting lines are:

• Debit/ATM/Zelle fraud: 1-800-432-1000
• Credit card fraud: 1-800-421-2110
• Suspicious activity or wire fraud: 1-877-366-1121

If you receive a message from any other number claiming to be BoA, it is safest to hang up and dial one of these official lines directly.

What To Do If You Receive the 1-833-225-5516 Message

Here’s how to stay safe and report the scam:

1. Do not call back or reply to the text.
2. Block the number on your phone and mark it as spam.
3. Check your bank account directly through official apps or websites, never via links or phone numbers from a message.
4. Report the scam to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
5. Alert your bank if you accidentally shared information. They can secure your account and issue new credentials.

Another example making headlines is the WBD Global Streaming text scam, which falsely claims to be from Warner Bros. Discovery to trick users into clicking fake subscription links. Similar impersonation tactics have also been seen in ccspayment.com scam alerts, where fake debt notices mislead people into paying through fraudulent portals.

For a deeper look at major online frauds trending this year, see our report on the biggest web-based scams of 2025.

Tips to Avoid Similar Scam Calls

• Be skeptical of urgent requests about “declined transactions.”
• Never verify your identity over the phone unless you initiated the call through an official number.
• Keep antivirus and spam filters updated.
• Educate family members, especially elderly relatives, about scam call tactics.
  (Messaging app hoaxes are also on the rise: take a look at the WhatsApp Gold scam to learn how such schemes spread and how to stay safe from them with the entire family.)

For ongoing protection, check out our list of simple ways to avoid online and phone scams.

Quick Takeaway

The 1-833-225-5516 scam is just the latest in a series of impersonation schemes using big-brand names like Bank of America and Target to trick consumers. Treat every unsolicited message as suspicious until verified. A few seconds of caution can save you from financial loss and identity theft.