Press Release by Pat Laney, KCSO

According to Kaufman County Sheriff’s Office reports, over this past weekend almost all areas in Kaufman County were phone phished by scammers attempting to obtain confidential information from area residents. Scammers represented themselves as representatives from a local bank, calling residents with a pre-recorded message warning of account suspension and seeking pin codes and confidential information. Some residents also received calls and texts asking them to reset their debit card pin numbers.

“If you received one of these calls and provided the information, please contact your area local bank as soon as possible,” said Pat Laney, public information officers for the sheriff’s office.

According to Laney, phishing (pronounced “fishing”) is exactly what thieves are doing.

“They are fishing for any type of personal financial information,” Laney explained. “Phishing scams take many forms. It can be an email, a telephone message to your home or cell phone and even a cell phone text message. These scammers will use various ways to contact you, phishing for one thing- your personal information.”

To help county residents from falling victim to such scams, KSO is offering the following tips:
-Never provide your personal information to an unsolicited email, telephone call or a text message. Remember, if you did not initiate the call, text or email, do not give out any personal information.
-If you believe that it may be a legitimate telephone call or email, visit or contact the institution directly, by using a telephone number or web site you have verified yourself. Verify those numbers through published numbers found in a telephone directory or on a web site. A monthly statement, such as your bank statement, is another source for verifying legitimate telephone numbers and websites.
-Never provide your password or PIN number over the telephone or when replying to an unsolicited email or text message. Institutions, especially financial institutions, will never ask you to verify any account or personal information online, over the telephone or through a text message.
-Review your account statements regularly. Checking your accounts through an online Internet banking program gives you the ability to view your accounts on a daily basis to catch any suspicious activity, rather than waiting for your monthly statement.
-Do not be intimidated by an email, caller or text message. Be suspicious of an email, caller or text message suggesting that if you do not respond immediately with account information or verify account information, your account will be in jeopardy.
-If you receive a suspicious email, text or telephone call, report it to the business or institution immediately. If it is an email, forward the email to the business or institution. Provide the fraudulent telephone number that you have been directed to contact, if you received a text message or telephone call.
-Report all suspicious contacts to the Federal Trade Commission at www.consumer.gov/idtheft or by calling 1-877-IDTHEFT.

According to Laney, residents who suspect they have fallen prey to a phishing scam should contact their personal banking institution immediately.

“If you disclosed any personal or confidential information in a phishing scam, contact one of the three major credit bureaus to place a fraud alert on your file,” Laney added. “This will prevent the scammers from opening new accounts in your name.”

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