Block Suspicious Links & Set Up Safer Bank Alerts

This guide shows you how to stop phishing links from reaching your phone and how to configure bank alerts that catch fraud early. You’ll learn to use built-in phone features, adjust notification settings, and set up transaction alerts that work for your banking habits. No special apps or technical skills are required—just a few minutes of setup.

What You’ll Need

• Your smartphone (iPhone or Android) with the latest operating system update installed.
• Access to your bank’s mobile app or online banking portal (you’ll need your login credentials).
• A phone number or email address where you want to receive alerts (confirm it’s current with your bank).

Step-by-Step

Part 1: Block Suspicious Links on Your Phone

1. Enable spam protection in your messaging app. On Android, open the Messages app, tap the three-dot menu (top right), select “Settings,” then “Spam protection,” and toggle it on. On iPhone, go to Settings > Messages, scroll down to “Filter Unknown Senders,” and turn it on. This sends messages from unknown numbers to a separate list and flags likely spam.
2. Turn on link scanning in your email app. For Gmail, open the app, tap your profile picture, go to “Manage your Google Account,” then “Security,” and ensure “Enhanced Safe Browsing” is enabled (this checks links in real time). For Outlook, go to Settings > Mail > Security and enable “Safe links.” These features block known malicious URLs before you tap them.
3. Use your phone’s built-in link filter. On iPhone, go to Settings > Safari (or Chrome) > Privacy & Security, and enable “Fraudulent Website Warning.” On Android, open Chrome, tap the three-dot menu, go to Settings > Privacy and security, and turn on “Safe Browsing” (choose “Enhanced protection” for the strongest filter).
4. Block unknown callers and texts. On iPhone, go to Settings > Phone > Silence Unknown Callers and turn it on. On Android, open the Phone app, tap the three-dot menu, select “Settings,” then “Caller ID & spam,” and toggle “See caller & spam ID” and “Filter spam calls.” This reduces the chance of receiving scam links via voice or SMS.
5. Report and block any suspicious link you receive. If a link arrives via text, long-press the message, tap the three-dot menu (Android) or the “Report Junk” option (iPhone), and confirm. Then block the sender: in the message thread, tap the contact name/number, then “Block” (Android) or “Block this Caller” (iPhone). Do not tap the link first—long-press it to see the full URL and verify it looks legitimate.

Part 2: Set Up Safer Bank Alerts

6. Log into your bank’s app or website. Use the official app or type the bank’s URL directly into your browser. Do not click links from emails or texts claiming to be your bank.
7. Navigate to the alerts or notifications section. This is usually under “Settings,” “Profile,” or “Security & Privacy.” If you can’t find it, search your bank’s help center for “alerts.”
8. Enable transaction alerts. Turn on alerts for:
• All purchases above $0.01 (or the smallest amount your bank allows). This gives you real-time visibility into every charge.
• Online or card-not-present transactions—these are the highest risk for fraud.
• International transactions—if you don’t travel often, this is a red flag.
• ACH or wire transfers—these can be hard to reverse.
9. Set up login and profile change alerts. Enable notifications for:
• New device login—you’ll be notified if someone logs in from an unfamiliar device.
• Password or PIN change—immediate alert if your credentials are altered.
• Contact information update—scammers often change your email/phone to hide their activity.
10. Choose your delivery method. Push notifications (via the bank’s app) are fastest. SMS is good but can be intercepted via SIM swapping. Email is least secure but useful for records. Use push notifications as your primary, and add SMS as a backup for critical alerts like password changes.
11. Test your alerts. After saving, make a small purchase (e.g., $1 at a store) or log in from a different device. Confirm you receive the alert within a few seconds. If not, check your notification settings on the phone (see Troubleshooting).

Common Mistakes

• Ignoring built-in filters. Many people disable spam filters because they miss a legitimate email. Instead, whitelist trusted senders rather than turning off the filter entirely.
• Setting alerts too high. If you set a $100 threshold, a $50 fraudulent charge won’t trigger an alert. Use $0.01 or the lowest available.
• Not updating your phone number with the bank. If you change your number but don’t update it, alerts go to the wrong person.
• Clicking links in alerts without verifying. Scammers can spoof bank alerts. Always open your bank’s app directly, not via a link in the alert.
• Turning on too many alerts. If you get 50 alerts a day, you’ll start ignoring them. Choose the high-risk ones (online, international, large amounts) and skip low-value ones like balance updates.

Tips

• Use a password manager. It can auto-fill your bank login only on the real site, preventing phishing.
• Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on your bank account. Use an authenticator app (like Google Authenticator) rather than SMS, which is more secure.
• Review your alerts monthly. Banks sometimes change their alert options. Check that your settings are still active after app updates.
• Set a separate alert for balance changes. If your balance drops below a certain amount, you’ll know immediately if a large withdrawal happens.
• Keep your phone’s OS updated. Security patches fix vulnerabilities that scammers exploit to deliver malicious links.

Troubleshooting

• Alerts not arriving via push notification. Check that the bank’s app has notification permission: on iPhone, go to Settings > Notifications > [Bank App] and enable “Allow Notifications.” On Android, go to Settings > Apps > [Bank App] > Notifications and turn on “All.” Also ensure your phone isn’t in Do Not Disturb mode.
• Spam filter not catching a suspicious link. Manually block the sender and report the message. If it’s in email, mark it as “Report phishing” in Gmail or “Report” in Outlook. If the link is in a text, forward it to 7726 (SPAM) on most carriers.
• Bank alerts are delayed. Sometimes banks batch alerts. Check if your bank offers “real-time” vs “daily” alerts—choose real-time. Also, ensure your phone has a stable internet connection.
• You can’t find the alert settings in the app. Try the full website on a computer. Some banks only allow alert configuration on the web version. If still stuck, call the number on the back of your card (not from an email).
• You accidentally clicked a suspicious link. Do not enter any information. Close the browser tab immediately. Run a security scan on your phone (e.g., Google Play Protect on Android). Change your bank password from a different device, and contact your bank’s fraud department.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will blocking unknown senders prevent me from getting legitimate messages?

It will route messages from unknown numbers to a separate list instead of your main inbox. You can still check that list. Legitimate contacts saved in your phone will appear normally.

How do I know if a link is safe before tapping it?

Long-press the link (or hover on desktop) to see the full URL. Check for misspellings, extra characters, or a different domain than expected (e.g., “paypal-security.com” is fake). If in doubt, type the official website address directly into your browser.

What’s the difference between push, SMS, and email alerts?

Push alerts appear instantly via the bank’s app and are the most secure. SMS is also fast but can be intercepted if someone swaps your SIM. Email is the slowest and least secure, but useful for record-keeping.

Can I set alerts for specific merchants or categories?

Most banks allow you to set alerts for transaction types (online, international) but not for specific merchants. Some banks let you create custom rules based on amount or category. Check your bank’s alert options.

Should I use a separate phone number for bank alerts?

If you have a spare phone or a Google Voice number, it can reduce the risk of SIM swapping. However, the most important thing is to use a number you control and update it immediately if it changes.

What should I do if I receive a suspicious link that looks like it’s from my bank?

Do not tap it. Report it to your bank using the official contact number from your card or statement. Forward phishing emails to your bank’s fraud department (often listed on their website). Then delete the message.

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