I understand the dangers of answering scam calls, don't explain it to me

but you're assuming that "bank security" (or the like) will never call you to alert you to a scam, or that you will recognize their number. maybe they don't, you may know that, but I sure don't.

> you're assuming that "bank security" (or the like) will never call you to alert you to a scam, or that you will recognize their number

I'm assuming no such thing. I have indeed gotten calls and texts from my bank and my credit card companies alerting me to fraudulent transactions, that were legit calls and not scams.

But I didn't answer those calls or texts directly, or try to figure out whether the number that was calling me or texting me was the right one. What I did was to call a number that I already know, independently, leads to my bank, or to my credit card company's fraud department. Or I independently logged into the bank's or credit card company's website to see if there were any alerts. And if there were, I acted on them.

I described this in my earlier post: "If they claim to be from some company I have a relationship with, I check independently to see if something's up."

I don't think security at most bank will ever call you about a transaction. At best they may text you. But if you get some communication there's a problem, if you talk to someone, you should call the official number rather than someone who calls you.

ignorance is not a defense.

It's true, unknown calls are 99% spam. That's on you if you'd want to believe otherwise; by your own admission, you don't know.

Yes, important companies you do business with you will come to store those in your contacts. You'll have specific account reps even. Services, apps, don't call you, for this very reason, they have in-app confirmation flows.

They can leave a voicemail.