Fraud Watch October 2026: BankSouth Impersonation Scam to Be Aware Of

As the holiday season approaches, scammers are finding new ways to take advantage of busy shoppers. From a new BankSouth impersonation scam to fake delivery links and fraudulent donation requests, we have what you need to know to protect your personal and financial information.

Not sure if that call or text was BankSouth? If you receive an unexpected call or text from BankSouth, do not click any links or provide any information. Hang up and call us directly at (706) 453-2265.

BankSouth Impersonation Scam

Scammers are sending fraudulent text messages impersonating BankSouth and asking customers to verify a Best Buy purchase. If a customer responds that the purchase was not authorized, the scammers follow up with a phone call. During the call, they try to gain access to the customer's Online Banking account and steal money..

How to Protect Yourself:

• Never share your Online Banking credentials, passwords, or one-time verification codes with anyone.
• Do not respond to unexpected text messages from BankSouth asking you to verify purchases or account activity. Contact BankSouth directly at (706) 453-2265.
• Be cautious of callers claiming to be BankSouth employees, even if the caller ID appears legitimate.

Holiday Shopping & Delivery Scams

As the holiday shopping season approaches, scammers are targeting shoppers with fake online stores, misleading ads, and phony delivery notifications. These scams may trick you into sharing personal information, entering payment details, or buying items that never arrive.

How to Protect Yourself:

• Shop with trusted retailers and research unfamiliar websites before making a purchase.
• Avoid links in unexpected delivery notifications. Check tracking details directly with the retailer or shipping carrier.
• If you're a seller, avoid buyers who request a certain shipping method to avoid customs or taxes in another country.

Donation Scams

Scammers often take advantage of people's generosity by pretending to be real charities or creating fake fundraisers, especially after natural disasters or during the holiday season. They may use sad stories or urgent requests to pressure you into donating before checking where your money is going.

How to Protect Yourself:

• Research charities through trusted resources like charitynavigator.org or the BBC Wise Giving Alliance at give.org before donating.
• Avoid making donations through unexpected links in emails, texts, or social media messages. Donate through the charity's official website.
• Be wary of urgent donation requests or demands for payment by gift card, cryptocurrency, or wire transfer.

BankSouth Tools to Fight Fraud

Card Controls & Account Alerts

Stay informed about your account activity with alerts for transactions and balance changes. Use Card Controls to turn your debit card on and off, set spending limits, and receive notifications when your card is used.

Online & Mobile Banking

Check balances and review recent transactions anytime. Regularly checking your accounts makes it easier to catch charges or transfers you didn't authorize.

Digital Wallets

Add your BankSouth debit card to a digital wallet for more secure payments. Digital wallets such as Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay use security technology that helps protect your actual card number during eligible transactions. Add your BankSouth debit card to your mobile wallet.

Does something feel off? Is the offer too good to be true? Do you feel like you need to discuss it with someone? Stop. Think. Call. Get more fraud prevention tips from our Fraud Center, where we cover the latest fraud trends affecting our community.