Don’t get duped! Scores of people are checking their bank statements after a text message, supposedly from Marine Bank, requested sensitive information from customers
Marine Bank officials say there is no indication that security at Marine Bank was compromised. Springfield Police say it appears this is a phishing scam where the culprits are text messaging local numbers at random hoping someone will fall into their trap.
“It was really scary […] and I was upset,” Waverly resident Loretta Painter said.
Painter received the text message Friday night saying her Marine Bank account was temporarily de-activated.
“I don’t have an account with that bank any longer and haven’t for five years,” Painter said.
That was the first of several red flags.
“It’s almost like a roller coaster effect,” Springfield Police officer Troy Parish said.
The fraudulent text message told the recipient to call the local number listed to keep the account active.
“[Banks are] never going to ask you personal information like social security or the account number because they already have that,” Parish said.
Police say most banks will not even send you a text message.
“Just the wording in the text and the phone number seemed like an odd phone number,” Sangamon County Undersheriff Jack Campbell said.
The phone number is local but police say that does not mean the scammers are from the area.
“Nowadays with the technology anybody can obtain any type of a specific area code,” Parish said.
That may make it difficult to track.
“Detectives do have a way of checking into certain numbers,” Parish said.
Police say if the culprit, or culprits, are caught it is a felony.
“You have to trust your instincts,” Campbell said.
The problem is it is your instincts the scammers are playing on. Police say it is common for scammers to use bank routing numbers in messages, which anyone has access to.
“So when people see it they’re like, ‘Wait a minute that’s my number,'” Parish said.
But don’t be fooled.
“The scammers, once they get the number there’s any number of ways to compromise someone’s credit,” Parish said.
“It can be gone in a matter of just a few seconds,” Painter said.
If you, or someone you know, did enter account information into that automated system contact Springfield Police immediately. If you just called that number but stopped short of entering that information police say you shouldn’t be at risk.
There were also similar complaints from customers of other local banks but so far it does not appear that any of those banks have had a security breach.
Police say unfortunately these scams are most common during this time of year.
Phishing Scam Targets Local Bank Customers