It’s happening everywhere, across the country and here in our backyard. Consumers receive a text message, phone call or email message informing them that their debit card is locked or there is possible fraud connected to the use of the card. The message is created to look like it’s coming from your financial institution and instructs the reader to confirm “yes” or “no” to a particular transaction. If the victim responds to the text message, they soon receive a phone call, supposedly from the financial institution. The person on the other end of the call poses as an employee of the financial institution and walks the victim through a process of resetting PINs/passwords. Codes are delivered to the victim’s devices and the caller tricks them into sharing these codes. Once these codes have been shared, the scammers have access to the victim’s accounts and can transfer money out.
The moral of this story—Never, never, ever give out any personal or account information to anyone. Your financial institution will never ask for your banking passwords and will never ask you to divulge information that you receive as part of an identity verification process.
If you receive a message like this, please do not respond. Please delete it. If you are concerned that you have given up sensitive information or think someone has any of your banking information, call your financial institution at the publicly listed phone number immediately so that you can avoid any possible financial losses.
