The Leitchfield Police Department is warning Grayson County residents regarding scam phone calls meant to obtain an intended victim’s banking information.
In a social media post, LPD said:
Consumers in our area are getting hit with a clever scam. A call comes in using a local bank’s phone number. The number is spoofed and is not really the bank. Caller ID may display a bank’s name, a fraud department or a security agency as the caller ID.
The caller represents themselves as a Fraud Detection agent, calling about suspicious activity on the intended victim’s bank account. Customers are asked to verify who they are by providing their online banking login credentials.
They are further asked to authenticate themselves by providing a passcode being sent to their cell phone. It is the security passcode being sent by the consumer’s bank, as the fraudsters are logging into the customer’s account.
They may be asked to try “additional” passcode attempts that follow. With each passcode provided, the fraudsters are transferring money.
The customer is told not to login to their online banking for 48 hours while the suspicious activity is being investigated. This is a delay tactic to hide the money transfers.
They are also asked to be patient and not to contact the bank or the Fraud Department. The Fraud Department will reach out to them once the investigation is completed. Again, this is to delay discovery of the account compromise.
If you receive such a call, do not hesitate to hang up and call the known number for your financial institution or credit card. Never provide information to someone that calls you.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
