PIERRE, S.D.-   Attorney General Marty Jackley is alerting South Dakotans of a recent email scam known as the “Phishing” scam in which account holders receive an email requesting information such as name, date of birth, and account password. The emails also often contain misspelled words and a false warning that if the customer does not respond to the email the account will be closed.

 

“These types of notices are an attempt to harvest your personal account information for fraudulent purposes,” states Jackley. In this recent scam, the notice asks Midcontinent Communications, Inc. (MIDCO) to upgrade their account by e-mailing the company their user identification and password. Failure to do that, according to the e-mail, will mean the permanent loss of the customer’s account. Representatives from MIDCO have confirmed that they do not send such emails nor did they ask for this information by email.

 

Residents are reminded not to send such personal information via e-mail to companies or other people without checking first to make it is legitimate. Attorney General Jackley warns all South Dakota consumers to be extremely cautious when asked for personal or financial information via e-mail or phone.

 

If you feel you have been a victim of a scam please contact the Consumer Protection Division at 1-800-300-1986 or consumerhelp@state.sd.us.