Scams

Jan24, Pittsburgh Tribune Review – (National) National phishing scam targets Sprint cell customers. Pittsburgh police investigators warned cell phone customers on January 23 about a text-messaging scam that they say is reaching “epidemic” proportions nationwide. People are receiving text messages as part of a phishing scam, in which victims are asked for their bank account numbers and PINs, said a detective of the Computer Crimes Unit. The scam affects Sprint cell-phone customers and involves dozens of banks, police said. The scam has affected customers in dozens of states, including New York, Michigan, Missouri, and Texas, police said. Source: http://hdvoice.tmcnet.com/news/2009/01/24/3937014.htm

Jan23, Idaho Press Tribune – (Idaho; Oregon) Idaho attorney general warns of text message scam. The Idaho attorney general warned consumers not to respond to text messages claiming to be from Bank of the Cascades. Idaho consumers have been contacting the attorney general’s consumer protection division to report suspicious text messages, purporting to be from Bank of the Cascades. But Bank of the Cascades is not sending the messages. “Bank of the Cascades does not contact customers by text messaging,” the bank president said. “The criminals involved in this activity are sending messages to random cell phone numbers. They do not know who is a customer of the bank and who is not. None of the bank’s security systems have been breached and, as long as the consumer has not responded, there is no danger to their account.” The text messages ask customers, as part of a “protection program,” to call a telephone number “to verify your account info.” Consumers who call the telephone number reach a recorded message that asks them to enter their credit card number. The bank’s security division believes this scam is coming from outside the United States. A scam text message purporting to be from Bank of the Cascades also popped up on cell phones across the Rogue Valley in Oregon. Source: http://www.idahopress.com/news/?id=19072

Jan27, Cape Cod Times – (Massachusetts) Falmouth police warn of credit card scam. Police are warning area residents of a telephone credit card scam that has been reported to them. The scam starts with a recorded message from a caller identified as the Service Credit Union, according to a press release from the Falmouth police. The message tells the call’s recipient that their credit card is suspended because of “third- party activity” and then asks them to enter a credit card number by using the phone’s keypad, according to the press release. The Service Credit Union has told the Falmouth police that they are not looking for this information, police said. Residents should not give out personal information, including credit card information, the police said.

Jan26, Yakima Herald-Republic – (Washington) Text message scams target Yakima Valley Credit Union customers. Tens of thousands of people nationwide have received suspicious text messages asking for individuals’ banking information. The most recent incident involves the Yakima Valley Credit Union. The messages state that the recipient’s bank account has been closed due to unusual activity, and asks the individual to call a phone number with bank information. The Yakima Valley Credit Union has been busy fielding calls from concerned customers. The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and president fielded calls from across the state. The credit union has reported the scam to several agencies including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the local police, and the National Credit Union Administration and posted an alert on its Web site to remind customers that the credit union will never contact customers for sensitive information. The CEO said most people have not fallen for the scam, but for the few people who have, the credit union has managed to intervene and prevent any money from being stolen from them.

Jan28, Seacoastonline.com – (New Hampshire) Service Credit Union advises members to avoid phone scam. Service Credit Union is warning that telephone scammers are attempting to obtain personal information from ATM/Visa Check cardholders. Area residents, members and nonmembers, are receiving computer-generated calls claiming to be from Service Credit Union. The call claims account information was breached and directs the cardholder to press 1 to give his or her debit card information to reactivate any cards. Personal information requested includes account number, card expiration date and personal identification number. Service Credit Union does not solicit personal information over the phone, and if residents receive questionable calls, they should not provide any personal information, said the chief executive of Service Credit Union. If residents receive a suspicious call, they should notify Service Credit Union by e-mail and call the local authorities.

Jan30, Infozine – (National) Phishing scam targeting Missourians with bogus ‘card services’ calls. Consumers have contacted the Missouri attorney general’s office saying a caller claims to be from a company called Card Services, asking them to enter their credit card number to see if they qualify for a better rate. This is simply an attempt by thieves to steal credit card numbers. In the phone call, consumers are led to believe they are being contacted by their credit card company and they are asked to dial a number, usually 9, if they are interested in trying to get a lower interest rate. The attorney general says in phishing scams like this, with thieves fishing for personal information, the crooks can steal credit card numbers, use them in a matter of minutes through online purchases and run up big charges that appear later on the consumer’s credit card statement.

Feb1, Des Moines Register – (Iowa) Police warn U.S. Cellular customers of text message fraud. Police in Cedar Rapids, Des Moines and West Des Moines have received several reports this morning of fraudulent text messages being sent to U.S. Cellular customers from a company identifying itself as MetaBank. Police are advising anyone who has received these messages not to call the 1-800 number listed or give out any personal information. According to Cedar Rapids police, the text messages tell customers there has been a security breach on their account and to call a toll-free number that asks for a credit card number and personal information. U.S. Cellular is advising customers to instead call 6-1-1, the U.S. Cellular customer service line, and information will be passed on to the company’s fraud department.

Feb2, Idaho Business Review – (Idaho) Bank card ‘phishing’ scams with new twists target Idahoans. Criminals trying to obtain credit and debit card numbers have expanded their attack on Idaho consumers, the Idaho attorney general warned today. Idaho First Bank in McCall has informed the attorney general’s office that numerous people have contacted the bank to report suspicious e-mails, text messages and cell phone calls. Idaho First Bank is not sending these messages. The fraudulent messages are designed to appear that they came from the bank and ask recipients to provide their credit or debit card number. The cell phone calls play a recording that asks the recipient to immediately enter their card account number through the cell phone. Last week, the Idaho attorney general warned consumers not to respond to fraudulent text messages that looked like they came from Bank of the Cascades. There have also been recent news reports of similar messages fraudulently claiming to be from a credit union in Yakima, Washington. Source: http://www.idahobusiness.net/archive.htm/2009/02/02/Bank-card-phishing-scams-with-new-twists-target-Idahoans

Feb2, Pacific Business News – (Hawaii) Hawaii bankers warn of phone scam. Credit and debit cardholders in Hawaii are targets of a new phone “phishing” scam, said the Hawaii Bankers Association. In the scam, an automated recorded message identifying the caller as representing a local bank asks for the person’s credit or debit card number and PIN number. “No legitimate financial institution will ever solicit its customers for personal account information over the phone or online,” said the association in a statement. Anyone who has responded to questionable phone calls or e-mails are asked to contact their bank’s customer-service department.

Feb4, Tuscan Citizen – (Arizona) New phishing scam seeks cell users’ credit union data. A phishing cell phone scam, where people are getting text messages telling them there is a problem with their credit union account, has hit Tucson. The text messenger asks for personal information to be e-mailed or called in. The scammer says there are problems with accounts at “Piramid Credit Union,” which is different from the legitimate Pyramid Credit Union in Tucson, said the acting president of the Tucson Better Business Bureau. Another phony text message says it is from the legitimate Vantage West Credit Union. The telephone number has been traced to Michigan and the e-mail address has been traced to Germany, she said. The scammers are texting numerous people in the hope of getting some who are Vantage or Pyramid customers, she said.