Janet Sandlin, assistant vice president and branch manager of Whitaker Bank in Hazard, said the scam is being perpetrated via cell phones, and she knows because she received a call herself on Wednesday.
“I answered (the call), and it said that my debit card had been deactivated, and in order to reactivate it I have to go through a security system,” said Sandlin.
She said she was told to press “1” on her phone, after which she would be instructed how to reactivate her debit card. She said she attempted to continue the call to find out what sort of information was being requested, but the call ended after she attempted to proceed.
“It just cut off after that,” she said.
But some people apparently haven’t been so lucky, Sandlin continued. Though most people hung up and contacted the bank after receiving the call, Sandlin said some apparently did give out their personal information, some of whom have since contacted the bank to inform them of the call. She said she understands that customers from every banking company operating in Perry County have received similar calls.
Under no circumstances should anyone give out their personal banking information over the phone, Sandlin said, as that’s information the bank already has.
“We already know that information,” she advised. “ We’re not going to call to ask for your information. Never give out your number or pin number on the phone.”
Sandlin said if someone does receive a call requesting financial information such as pin numbers of bank accounts, decline to give out that info and contact the local bank. If someone did give the information over the phone, she said it’s best to call the bank and cancel the card and order a new one.
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