High riskText Message

New Payee Text Scam

This scam texts that a new payee or recipient has been added to your bank account and tells you to call a number or tap a link to cancel it, leading to a fake page or a scammer posing as your bank's fraud team.

Quick verdict

Risk level
High risk
Scam type
Bank impersonation (smishing)
Main red flag
A text says a new payee was added to your account, with a number or link to 'stop' it.
What to do first
Do not call or click. Check payees only in your bank's official app or website.

Understanding this scam

This scam texts that a new payee or recipient has been added to your bank account and tells you to call a number or tap a link to cancel it, leading to a fake page or a scammer posing as your bank's fraud team.

Text-message scams, known as "smishing", reach you directly on your phone where a link is only a tap away and messages feel personal and urgent. They impersonate trusted senders, banks, couriers, government, or even people you know, and depend on you acting before you pause to verify.

If you take one thing from this guide, make it this: A text says a new payee was added to your account, with a number or link to 'stop' it. Do not call or click. Check payees only in your bank's official app or website.

If your message looks slightly different, check the Fake Bank Alert Text Scam or the Bank Impersonation Phone Scam, both are close cousins of this pattern. Every related guide lives in the Text Message Scams guides, and the scam checker can scan the text you received.

A typical example

Example pattern, not a real report
Example pattern: 'A new payee was added to your account at 14:02. If this wasn't you, call us immediately or verify here: [suspicious link]'

This is a fictional, anonymised example used to illustrate the pattern. It is not a verified real message, and any names are used only to show how the scam typically reads.

The tell here: A text says a new payee was added to your account, with a number or link to 'stop' it.

What the data shows

$330M
reported lost to text-message scams in the US in 2022, more than double the year before
Source: US Federal Trade Commission
#1
fake bank fraud alerts were the most-reported text scam type in 2022
Source: US Federal Trade Commission

Warning signs

  • A 'new payee added' alert by text rather than in your app
  • A number or link to cancel the change
  • Pressure to act before money is sent
  • A request for your login, card, or one-time codes
  • A web address that is not your bank

Your safest response

  • Check payees and activity only in your bank's official app or website
  • Call your bank using the number on your card if unsure
  • Never share login details or one-time codes
  • Report the text to your mobile provider's spam service if available

If you have already engaged

  • Do not enter login, card, or code details on the page
  • If you shared details, contact your bank immediately to secure your account
  • Change your online banking password from a trusted device
  • Review payees and transactions for anything unfamiliar

What to avoid

  • Do not call numbers from the text
  • Do not share one-time codes with a 'fraud agent'
  • Do not log in through links in the message

You might also see

High risk Bank & Payment

Fake Bank Alert Text Scam

This scam sends a text claiming suspicious activity on your account, then steers you to a fake login page or a 'fraud agent' who pressures you to move money.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
High risk Bank & Payment

Bank Impersonation Phone Scam

In this scam a caller pretends to be your bank's fraud team, claims your account is under attack, and pressures you to move money to a 'safe account', read out one-time codes, or grant remote access so they can steal your funds.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Medium risk Text Message

Wrong Number Text Scam

This scam starts with a friendly 'wrong number' text, builds a casual conversation over time, and eventually steers you toward a fake investment.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team

Questions people ask

Does my bank text me to cancel a new payee?
Genuine alerts let you check activity in your app. A text with a number or link to 'stop' a new payee is a smishing attempt, so verify in the official app instead.
Why do scammers use a new-payee alert?
It triggers panic that money is about to leave your account, pushing you to call a fake fraud line where they extract codes or move your money.
I called and gave a code. What now?
Contact your bank immediately using the number on your card, change your password from a trusted device, and review payees and transactions.
How do I check real account activity?
Log in through your bank's official app or website, or call the number on your card, never the contact details in the text.

Last reviewed June 2026 · Written & reviewed by the

Disclaimer: This page provides educational information only to help you recognise common scam patterns. It is not legal, financial, cybersecurity, or law enforcement advice, and it does not confirm whether any specific message, company, or person is genuine or fraudulent. When in doubt, contact the official organisation directly and report concerns to your local authorities.