Beware of scam phone calls, texts, regarding your bank debit card

By JIM BROOKS
Nelson County Gazette

Monday, Jan. 20, 2014 — If your phone rings and the caller ID shows the number is “Unknown” or “Blocked,” be aware you are the target of a banking scam targeting random phone numbers across Nelson County.

When the call is answered, a robotic, automated voice says, “This is (garbled) Bank’s fraud monitoring department. Your debit card has been locked. To reactivate your card, please press 1.”

My cell phone and my wife’s cell phone received these calls Sunday night; my call was received at 10:49 p.m., my wife’s phone received the same call a few minutes later. Numerous area Facebook users reported receiving the same type of call over the weekend.

Once the call is answered, if no key is pressed the initial message repeats.  I listened to the message a second time to try to determine the bank name. The name was garbled and could be interpreted to be any one of several local banks.

I decided to play along. When I pressed “1” I was prompted to enter my debit card number. At this point I terminated the call, but one can safely assume the next requests would be for the expiration and the security number on the back of the card.

The scam, known as a “phishing,” and a number of variations, have been widely reported around the country since last fall. Local banks say a similar phishing scam is also operating via text message. The text includes a link for the recipient to click in order to reactivate their debit card.

Local banks recommend customers never give account information via text message or telephone. Customers who gave information out through a text message, website or phone call are asked to contact their bank and report the incident.

-30-