PIERRE, S.D. – Attorney General Marty Jackley is warning South Dakotans to be cautious of a scam that is targeting bank customers in South Dakota. Law enforcement and the South Dakota Consumer Protection Division have received complaints from consumers who have been receiving fraudulent automated messages on their cell phones. These calls come from individuals alleging to be with Wells Fargo. The automated messages request a call back for a number of reasons, including having a debit or credit card reinstated. Once the consumer returns the call they are asked to provide personal identifying information such as card and pin numbers.
Here are a few tips to avoid becoming a victim of this scam:
- Never provide personal identifying information to anyone. Banking institutions do not need this information to access your account.
- Change your PIN number frequently.
- Be sure to check monthly statements and compare current transactions. This will enable you to see if unauthorized purchases have been made.
- Contact the banking institution immediately if you feel your account or PIN number have been tampered with by identity thieves.
If you need any additional information about this scam please contact the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division at 1-800-300-1986 or at consumerhelp@state.sd.us.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE : Friday, July 29, 2011
CONTACT: Sara Rabern, (605) 773-3215
