Scam Artists Targeting Local Credit Union Customers In Kansas City Area With Phone Scam, Missouri AG Nixon Warns

December 10, 2007 -- Jefferson City, Mo. — Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon says Kansas City-area consumers are receiving phone calls that appear to be from Mazuma Credit Union, but actually are from identity thieves. An official-sounding phone call says the customer’s account has been suspended because of fraud, then asks them to call a toll-free number to reactivate the account. When they call the number, consumers are asked for their credit card number.

“This is phishing scam – nothing more,” said Nixon. “These crooks can put together very official sounding phone calls, but it’s important to remember never to give out personal information to anyone who’s contacted you.”

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Phishing is an attempt by identity thieves to trick consumers into giving out valuable personal information. Nixon says any consumer that gets a phone call or e-mail that appears to be from their financial institution should assume it’s a scam. Instead, he says they should call the legitimate phone number of the credit union or bank and report the contact.

Missourians should never divulge their personal information to anyone who calls or e-mails them. Nixon says Mazuma and other legitimate organizations will never call or e-mail consumers asking for personal information. Consumers can report phishing or other fraud at the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Hotline at 1-800-392-8222 his Web site, ago.mo.gov.

Source: Missouri Attorney General