Account services calls: is it a scam? The robocall explained
Quick answer
A recorded call from 'account services' or 'card services' offering to lower your credit card interest rate is a scam. Hang up, don't press any key and don't give card or Social Security numbers. Report the number at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
- Comes by
- Phone call, Voicemail
- Last updated
Reviewed by Anthon Wansland
Head of Product & Co-Founder
Serus is a privacy company with paid tools to find and remove your personal data. This page is free and based on official sources.
How it works
The FTC has taken action against robocallers who used names like "Rachel" and "Cardholder Services". The recording claimed they could cut your card's interest rate, sometimes to 6% or even 0%. Press 1 and you reached a telemarketer. In one case the fee was $495 to $1,595, paid upfront, and the rate rarely moved.
Caller ID is often faked, so the number can look local. The FTC says pressing a number to speak to someone or to be removed from the list will probably only lead to more robocalls.
Sources checked: ftc.gov, consumer.ftc.gov
Last verified against the official page:
Red flags
- A recorded message with a generic name like 'account services'
- An offer to lower your credit card interest rate
- A prompt to press 1 to speak to someone
- A request for your card or Social Security number
- An upfront fee for a service
Example message
This is account services. This is the final notice about lowering the interest rate on your credit card. Press 1 now to speak to a representative.
What to do
- 1
Hang up without pressing anything
Pressing a key, even to opt out, will probably only bring more calls.
- 2
Don't give card or Social Security numbers
Never give these to an unsolicited caller.
- 3
Call your card issuer
If you want a lower rate, call the number on the back of your card.
- 4
If you paid or shared details, act
Call your card issuer, ask for a replacement card and consider a credit freeze. Our guide on what to do after a data breach covers the steps.
- 5
Report it
Report the call to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov or DoNotCall.gov. Include the number that called you, the number on your caller ID, and the date and time if you know them.
Report it
Check if your details are exposed with Serus
Scammers find your number and address on data brokers and people-search sites. Serus removes them.
Why you got it
Scammers don't pick numbers and addresses at random. Names, phone numbers, home addresses and email addresses are easy to buy from people-search sites and data brokers, and they leak in breaches, which lets a caller or sender sound like they know you. Serus finds where your details are listed and removes them from the sites that hold them, and alerts you when your data shows up in a breach, so fewer scammers can reach you.
Frequently asked
Is 'account services' a real company?
Treat it as a cover name. In the FTC cases, callers used names like "Rachel" and "Cardholder Services" to pitch interest rate cuts for an upfront fee, then did little if anything to help.
Should I press 1 to stop the calls?
No. The FTC advises hanging up. Pressing numbers to speak to someone or to be removed from the list will probably only lead to more robocalls.
The number looked local. Does that mean it's real?
No. The FTC says caller ID is easy to fake, so a nearby number or a company you know doesn't prove anything.
Can a company really lower my interest rate?
Your card issuer can discuss your rate. Call the number on your card, not an unsolicited caller.
Sources
Something wrong or out of date? Tell us and we'll re-check it.
What changed
- Corrected the upfront fee range the FTC cited to $495 to $1,595 and added DoNotCall.gov as a place to report the call.
