Attorney General Larry Long and the South Dakota Bankers Association Warn of  Fraudulent Telemarketing Calls

PIERRE, S.D.-Attorney General Larry Long and the South Dakota Bankers Association are warning consumers to be skeptical of telemarketing calls that target bank account information. Both agencies have received numerous complaints statewide regarding these fraudulent calls.

The phone calls begin when an individual claiming to be from a local bank informs the consumer that their bank account numbers have been placed on a “verification list” which is located on the internet. They continue to tell consumers that these numbers are vulnerable and without proper verification these numbers could be used fraudulently. The scam artists hope that these scare tactics will result in consumers giving up their bank account numbers with little resistance.

“This is just another attempt to steal personal identifying information,” said Long. “Your bank already has access to your banking numbers and will not verify this information via phone or internet. If you receive a phone call like this, hang up and call your bank directly to question the call.”

If you have been a victim of this scam or would like to get additional information contact the Consumer Protection Division at 1-800-300-1986 or South Dakota Bankers Association at 1-605-224-1653.

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