Someone wants the code you just got. Should you share it?
No. A real company will never ask you to read a verification code back to a person. If someone asks you to share a code, stop and check.
Two messages. One difference.
- Ordinary
- Your bank: we will never call, text, or email to ask for this code. Your code is 481920.
- Worth a check
- This is your bank's security team. To stop the fraudulent charge, read back the 6-digit code we just sent you.
- The one difference
- The first tells you to keep the code to yourself. The second asks you to hand the code to a person.
- What Hunch would say
- Stop. Someone wants the code sent to them. A real company never needs you to read a code back to a person.
- Your next step
- Don't share it. If you want to be sure it's really them, hang up and call the number on the back of your card.
- The limit
- Hunch reads the message. It can't confirm who is really on the other end. That's why you check through a number you already trust.
Not sure about a message?
Check a message you're not sure about
It runs on your device. We don't store your message.
Common questions
Will my bank ever ask for my verification code?
No. Banks and real companies send you codes so you can enter them yourself. They never call or text to collect the code from you.
Someone says they're from support and need the code to fix my account. Is that real?
Treat it as a scam. No real support agent needs your code. Hang up and call the number on the back of your card or open the company's official app.
I already shared a code. What should I do now?
It's not your fault. Move fast: change that account's password, turn on two-factor authentication, and call your bank on a trusted number. In the US you can also report it at reportfraud.ftc.gov.