How to Avoid Scams That Target Chime Members

No, Chime is not a scam – we’re a legitimate financial technology company serving millions of members. Our banking services are provided by FDIC-insured partner banks, The Bancorp Bank, N.A., and Stride Bank, N.A., Members FDIC.*

Scammers sometimes pretend to be us to trick you because we’re a popular app. Knowing the difference between the real Chime and an imposter is key to keeping your money safe.

Understanding the difference between fraud and a scam affects whether you can get your money back. Here’s how they differ:

• Fraud: Someone uses your account without your permission, like stealing your card number. You’re often protected against fraud by policies like Visa^® Zero Liability.⁺
• Scams: You’re tricked into authorizing a payment or sharing your information. Because you approved the transaction, recovering your money is much harder.

Spotting scam warning signs early is your best defense.

Scammers love to use social media for their own gain. Here are the main types of scams you might see across social platforms.

Sweepstakes scams

Scammers exploit people’s love for free prizes to steal personal information. Here’s how to spot fake sweepstakes:

• Real Chime sweepstakes: You’ll automatically see winnings in your account if you’re a member. Non-members will need to open an account to be eligible.
• Fake sweepstakes: Messages claiming “You’ve won!” and asking you to verify your email, log into third-party platforms, or share passwords.
• “Chime glitch” scams: Claims that Chime is giving away free money due to a system error.

Our verified handles are @Chime and @ChimeHelps. Authentic sweepstakes are only advertised on our official social media platforms.

Second-party fraud

Second-party fraud happens when you willingly share your personal information with fraudsters for illegal activities. Unlike traditional identity theft, you’re knowingly participating – often lured by promises of easy money on social media.

This can include selling your account details for money laundering or fraudulent loans. Participating can lead to serious legal and financial consequences, so report suspicious messages immediately.

Fake customer support scams

Scammers create fake profiles, websites, and emails pretending to be Chime customer support. They’ll ask for sensitive information, like passwords and Social Security numbers.

Here’s how to identify real Chime support:

• Verified social handles: Look for the verification badge on our only official handles, @Chime and @ChimeHelps.
• Official email: Emails ending in @chime.com.
• Support channels: 24/7 live chat in the app or phone support.
• What we don’t have: Customer service “ambassadors” or “representatives” on social media.

If you’re ever in doubt, you can verify our official accounts by visiting our homepage and clicking the social media icons.

Our @ChimeHelps handle on the platform X (formerly Twitter) gives our members a centralized, trustworthy place to get customer service questions answered. With our verified handle, you can trust that you’re speaking to a real Chime team member.

Phone scams happen when scammers call or text claiming there’s been unauthorized activity on your account. They’ll ask you to verify your account details, share personal information, or download an app that gives them access to your account.

If we suspect fraud on your account, here’s what really happens:

1. We might decline the transaction and send you an SMS asking you to confirm it.
2. The text will look like this: “Did you try to use your Chime card ending [LAST 4] for $[AMOUNT] at [MERCHANT] on [DATE]? Reply Yes or No.”
3. If you reply “YES”: We’ll unlock your card for one hour so you can retry the transaction.
4. If you reply “NO” or don’t reply: We continue declining transactions, and you’ll need to contact us to replace your card.
5. For other declines: You’ll get a push notification or email explaining the reason, such as insufficient funds.

Keep an eye out for SMS messages using fake names like “Chime Bank” or “Chime Bancorp” and scammy follow-up calls too, pretending to be from “Chime Banking.” See examples below. Remember, Chime is not a bank, so the word “bank” is a big red flag.

You could very rarely receive a call from Chime. We do have options to schedule a call back when receiving support in-app. However, you won’t receive surprise phone calls from Chime urging you to send funds through a service like Pay Anyone or share sensitive information like your Social Security number.

Scammers send emails claiming you have “late” payments or need to claim prizes. These phishing scam emails try to trick you into sharing personal information.

Here’s how to spot a fake Chime email:

• Suspicious sender: Email addresses with odd letters or numbers, or domains that aren’t @chime.com
• Urgent requests: Demanding immediate action or threatening consequences
• Asks for sensitive info: Requesting passwords, Social Security numbers, or account details

Chime will never ask for sensitive information via email. If you’re updating your name or performing similar actions, we’ll provide protected cloud links for document uploads. When in doubt, verify through the app or contact our support team directly.

Scammers create fake sponsored ads that look like Chime ads when you search online. These ads send you to phishing sites that steal your information or infect your device with malware.

The real Chime customer service number is 1-844-244-6363. Chime team members will never ask you to download apps or send money through Pay Anyone.¹ If you see an ad suggesting this, it’s a scam.

If you have any doubt, use the contact number on the back of your Chime card or reach out through the app.

Scammers exploit payment apps like Venmo, Zelle, and Chime’s Pay Anyone1 to steal money. Here are common P2P scam tactics:

• Fake prize scams: You’ve won money, but need to pay a fee to claim it.
• Imposter scams: Someone claims to be from the IRS or IT support and demands payment.
• Romance scams: Someone builds a fake online relationship and asks for money.

Only use Pay Anyone1 to send money to people you already know and trust. Chime will never request that you send us funds through Pay Anyone¹ under any circumstances.

Scammers use different stories, but they often rely on the same tricks. If you notice these red flags, stop and double-check before taking any action:

• Urgency: They pressure you to act immediately, saying your account is locked or you’ll lose money if you don’t hurry.
• Secrecy: They tell you not to trust your bank or not to tell anyone else what you’re doing.
• Sensitive requests: They ask for your password, PIN, or one-time login code. Chime will never ask for these.
• Suspicious contact: They call or text from a standard 10-digit number but claim to be Chime support.
• Too good to be true: They promise free money or a prize, but you have to pay a fee to get it.

Now you know how to recognize a scam, here are some ways you can protect yourself:

• Never write any identifying information, especially your PIN, on your debit card.
• Never share your personal information with strangers or on unsecured websites. This includes your account number, username, password, your full Social Security number or even its last 4 digits, and the last 4 digits of your payment card.
• Enable additional security features, such as a PIN or passcode, biometric authentication (e.g., fingerprint or facial recognition), and other multi-factor authentication on your smartphone and P2P payment apps.
• Enable push notifications in the Chime app so you’re immediately alerted to suspicious activity.
• When you’re not planning to use your card, you can even block all debit and Chime Card transactions. All it takes is a quick toggle in the Chime app.
• Watch out for increased scammer activity during the holidays and tax season.
• If you think your information has been compromised, change your password immediately.
• If you think you’ve been a victim of a scam, we’ve outlined a few steps you should take to protect yourself.

If you’ve been targeted, don’t panic – but act fast. Here’s what to do:

1. Contact us immediately: Use the Chime app or call 1-844-244-6363.
2. Freeze your card: Toggle “Allow transactions” off in your app settings to stop new charges.
3. Change your password: Update your Chime password and turn on two-factor authentication.
4. Report it: File a report with the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
5. Monitor your account: Watch for unauthorized transactions and report anything suspicious.

We investigate every report, but we can’t always reverse authorized transactions. Reporting scams helps protect our entire community.

Although we strive to shut down fake accounts as quickly as possible, new ones continue to appear. We encourage you to guard your personal information carefully – and if you see a scam, let us know ASAP.

You can report suspected scams by contacting us directly through live chat, phone, or social media with the @Chime or @ChimeHelps handle.

Chime will never call, email, or text you to ask for your password or personal information. If you receive a suspicious message, don’t respond – contact us directly through the app or by calling 1-844-244-6363.

Want more peace of mind? Learn about how your money is protected with FDIC insurance.