Crooks never take a break, especially not over the holidays when their victims are most vulnerable to their tricks and scams. The holidays can be a stressful time with shopping, family and work gatherings, and other holiday events, especially for people already leading stressful lives. It's only made worse when they become an unsuspecting victim of a new phishing scam when they pick up the phone and are greeted by a recording or person claiming to be from their bank. This recording says that their account information has been compromised and asks them to punch in their account and PIN numbers. Unfortunately, many people, accustomed to providing their information by keypad, enter all their personal information without a thought, assuming that it is truly their bank calling. Unfortunately, those people who have done that over the last two months have just been victimized by an identity thief or phone scammer.
If you receive a call from a local bank that begins with a recording or a person saying that they are calling from your bank and need your account or PIN number or your account will be cancelled, immediately hang up the phone! Then, if you noted it, write down the number that called you and contact your local police non-emergency number to report it. Also, if you have received one of these calls, you need to contact your local bank to find out whether there is a problem with your account. Banks such as the Mid Penn Bank in Pennsylvania have even sent letters to their customers reminding them that a bank will never ask for their account or PIN numbers by phone. Most banks ask for your address, last four digits of your Social Security number, or a prearranged question to confirm that the person they are speaking with is legitimately the owner of the account. These scams have also recently been attached to unsolicited emails, so just as you would with a phone call, don't respond or call the numbers listed. Instead, contact your bank directly.
Millersburg, PA, Police Officer Jeremy Ulsh said that this scam "appears to be a random phishing expedition with the intent of gaining confidential customer information." Vice President Jay Miller of the Jim Thorpe National Bank in the Allentown, PA, area said, "Don't ever, no matter what they say . . . give out account information over the phone."
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