Warrick County Sheriff Issues Bank Scam Warning

Another scam is making its way through the area, and while it might look and sound real, it's a way for hackers to wipe out your bank account.

There are so many possibilities when it comes to ways people can get scammed nowadays. It's honestly kind of scary, especially for the elderly, who typically fall victim more often. These scammers have gotten very creative throughout the years. It's hard to not only keep up with them, but it has gotten even harder to decipher what is legit and what is a scam. That's why we want to make sure that you know about a new scam that is happening in Warrick County.

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Bank Scam Warning From the Warrick County Sheriff's Office

The Warrick County Sheriff’s Office took to Facebook earlier today to remind residents to remain vigilant and be aware of scam phone calls in which scammers may falsely claim to be calling from a bank’s fraud department. In some cases, these calls may appear to come from a legitimate bank phone number due to caller ID spoofing.

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I have received several of these calls recently. The biggest indication of the call being a scam was how agressive these callers were when I told them that I would just go to the bank and handle it in person. But the fact that they have your number, know your banking institution, and even your card number is pretty scary. They only need a little more information to get complete access to your bank account. The Warrick County Sheriff's Office offers the following information:

These callers may attempt to create a sense of urgency and ask for sensitive personal or financial information. The Sheriff’s Office wants to emphasize that legitimate financial institutions will never ask customers to share passwords, PINs, full card numbers, or one-time security codes over the phone or via text.
To help protect yourself and your loved ones, please keep the following safety tips in mind:
• Never share personal or financial information with unsolicited callers.
• Be cautious of calls that pressure you to act quickly or threaten account closure.
• If you receive a suspicious call, hang up and contact your bank directly using the phone number listed on your card, statement, or official website.
• Report suspicious activity to your bank as soon as possible.
• Always be suspicious if the caller tells you not to share their request with anyone else.
While banks and financial institutions continuously update security measures and systems, there is no substitute for being vigilant. Contact your financial institution and alert your family and friends of such attempts. If you have been a victim of fraud and have lost money or disclosed account information, contact your financial institution and your local law enforcement.

The Sheriff's Office ends by telling residents to visit https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/ for additional resources and to report fraud to the Federal Trade Commission.

Again, if you're unsure about a call being a scam or not, first things first, NEVER give the caller any personal information. Hang up, and call that organization directly via the phone number listed on their official website. Be safe, and be smart!

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