CBS News Philadelphia anchor Siafa Lewis says he was trying to protect his money when he picked up a call that looked like it came from his bank’s fraud department. Instead, he wound up out $7,000 after following instructions that sounded routine, only to find out they belonged to a scammer’s playbook.
The caller said there was suspicious activity on his account and asked Lewis to read back a one-time authentication code sent to his phone. Once he shared the code, the fraudsters used it to get into his account and move money out using Zelle. Lewis reported the theft to his bank, local police and the FBI, and he is still working to get the money back.
How the Call Unfolded
Lewis told CBS Philadelphia the caller sounded every bit like a real bank employee and even seemed to know details about his account. That made the request for a six-digit code feel like just another security check.
Only later, when he saw the Zelle transfers, did the situation click into place. “My heart drops,” he said, according to the station. Lewis says he never intentionally shared his login credentials, only the one-time code that confirmed his identity, which turned out to be all the scammers needed.
Bank Guidance and Warning
PNC reminds customers that the bank will not call to ask for a one-time passcode, a username or a password. Its security materials point people to the company’s Privacy & Security Center for more information on fraud and account protection resources.
That stance lines up with broader industry advice that warns against “social engineering” schemes, where criminals rely on urgency and trust to convince victims to hand over authentication codes that open the door to their accounts.
Why Imposter Scams Are Rising
According to new data from the Federal Trade Commission, consumers reported losing about $3.5 billion to imposter scams in 2025. Fraudsters who pretend to be from banks or government agencies top the complaint lists.
The agency reports that imposter scams now account for some of the largest reported losses. Attackers frequently lean on one-time authentication codes and high-pressure scripts that make victims feel they have to act immediately or risk losing everything.
Survey: Households Hit Hard
A Gallup/Stop Scams Alliance survey found that roughly one in 10 U.S. adults encountered a scam in 2025, either personally or through someone in their household, and that the overall cost of scams that year was estimated in the tens of billions of dollars.
The Gallup report also highlighted that many victims never file complaints with federal authorities. That silence leaves law enforcement with an incomplete picture of how these schemes work and how criminal networks move stolen money.
Local Context in Philadelphia
In the Philadelphia region, prosecutors and federal agents have been stepping up efforts against local fraud operations. In May, authorities charged multiple people accused of defrauding dozens of seniors across the area, according to NBC10 Philadelphia.
The FBI’s Philadelphia office has repeatedly urged residents to hang up on suspicious callers and to file complaints with the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) if they are targeted by scammers.
How to Avoid the Trick
Experts say the basic rules still apply: never share one-time authentication codes with anyone who contacts you, hang up on unexpected calls about account problems, and contact your bank using the phone number on the back of your card or from the institution’s official website.
The Federal Trade Commission also advises people to review account activity regularly, turn on stronger authentication options when available, and report suspected fraud both to the bank and to law enforcement. Moving quickly, the agency notes, can improve the odds that banks or investigators are able to freeze or trace fraudulent transfers.
Lewis told CBS Philadelphia he is sharing his story in the hope that others will recognize the warning signs sooner. Officials say those reports do more than help individual victims, they also give investigators crucial leads to follow the money and disrupt the networks behind these schemes.
