**Fulton Financial Corporation Impersonation Scam Campaign**
Cybersecurity analysts have identified a scam campaign targeting consumers through impersonation of Fulton Financial Corporation, a legitimate financial institution that has received 420 complaints through the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) regarding checking or savings account issues. Fraudsters are exploiting the bank's name recognition to deceive victims through multiple communication channels, including text messages and phone calls originating from Colorado-based numbers.
The scam operates through at least two distinct tactics documented in community reports. In the first scheme, criminals send text messages falsely claiming recipients are in violation for unpaid tolls, demanding immediate payment through QR codes and threatening court appearances within 24 hours. The second approach involves phone calls where scammers claim to have legal documents from "Fulton county" requiring signatures, with callers providing 855 callback numbers and threatening in-person visits to pressure victims into compliance. These tactics create artificial urgency while impersonating both the financial institution and legal authorities.
Consumer impact appears to be growing, with reports indicating the fraudsters are targeting family members, including adult children, to increase pressure on victims. The scammers demonstrate persistence by making multiple contact attempts and escalating their threats from remote payment demands to claims of physical document delivery. The geographic element suggests some coordination, with Colorado-based phone numbers being used to contact victims in other locations, indicating a potentially distributed operation.
To protect against this campaign, consumers should verify any communication claiming to be from Fulton Financial Corporation by contacting the bank directly through official channels listed on their website or statements, never through provided phone numbers or links. Do not click on links in suspicious text messages, scan QR codes from unknown sources, or provide personal information to unsolicited callers. Legitimate financial institutions and courts do not demand immediate payments via text message or threaten same-day legal action. If contacted by these scammers, hang up immediately, do not engage, and report the incident to the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov or file a complaint with the FCC for unwanted calls and texts. Consumers can verify if phone numbers or domains are associated with known scams by checking FTC and FCC databases or consumer protection websites.
This campaign presents a moderate threat level due to its multi-channel approach and impersonation of legitimate financial and legal entities. Recommended next steps include continued monitoring of complaint patterns, coordination with Fulton Financial Corporation to alert their customers, and tracking the Colorado-based phone infrastructure for potential enforcement action. Consumers should remain vigilant for similar schemes targeting other regional financial institutions and government entities.