New Wave Of Scam Phone Calls Is Targeting Central Bank Customers, Others In Mid-Missouri, Nixon Warns

February 13, 2008 -- Jefferson City, Mo. — Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon said his office has received approximately 50 calls just this afternoon from mid-Missourians who are receiving phone calls from people claiming to be with Central Bank but who, in reality, are trying to steal bank account and other financial information.

The consumers who have contacted the Attorney General’s Office report that the callers directed them to call another telephone number to resolve an urgent issue with the bank. Consumers who call that number are connected to an automated message that directs them to use the telephone keypad to enter sensitive financial information, such as a credit card number or bank account number.

“So far, the good news is that none of the consumers who contacted my office today have provided any of the information that these thieves are trying to get,” Nixon said. “Mid-Missourians have heard the warnings from the Attorney General’s Office and Central Bank numerous times in the past few months, and fortunately, they seem to be very wary when they receive these calls, e-mails or text messages. But there may be others who are providing the information that the scam artists are looking for because the message they receive looks or sounds official.

“The message bears repeating: never give out this kind of information to anyone unless you initiate the contact,” Nixon said. “These thieves try to convince you it is both urgent and necessary for you to give them those numbers. Don’t do it.”

Nixon says any consumer who gets an e-mail, phone call or text message that appears to be from their financial institution should assume it’s a scam. Instead, he says they should call the bank’s legitimate phone number and report the contact.

Missourians should never divulge their personal information to anyone who contacts them. They should only give out that data when they initiate the contact. Consumers can report phishing or other fraud at Nixon’s Web site, ago.mo.gov, or his Consumer Protection Hotline at 1-800-392-8222.

Source: Missouri Attorney General

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