Ashland Police Warn Residents of New Banking Scam Involving Home Visits
Scammers impersonate bank employees, use spoofed phone numbers and may even arrive at a victim’s door to collect bank cards
ASHLAND — The Ashland Police Division is warning residents about a troubling new banking scam in which criminals pose as bank employees and attempt to steal customers’ cards, personal information and money.
According to police, the scam may begin with a text message appearing to come from a customer’s bank. The message, sent from a spoofed phone number, asks whether the customer made a particular purchase.
The impersonator then calls from what appears to be the same bank phone number and claims the bank has a new program in which an employee will come to the customer’s home to collect the supposedly compromised card. The caller may promise to provide a temporary virtual or paper card until a replacement arrives.
Police said the scammer may then show up at the victim’s home wearing clothing and a hat bearing the bank’s name in an effort to appear legitimate.
“Banks will never come to your door,” the police division emphasized in its warning.
Authorities also cautioned that banks, police officers and the FBI will never ask customers to participate in an investigation of a bank employee or branch. Anyone instructed to withdraw money from an account while an alleged investigation is underway should immediately recognize the request as a scam.
Residents should also avoid clicking links contained in suspicious text messages. Police warned that some links may allow scammers to gain access to a victim’s phone, view the screen and monitor apps in real time.
If a call, text message or email claims to be from a bank, residents should not provide account numbers, passwords, verification codes or other personal and financial information.
Anyone uncertain about a message should end the communication and contact the bank directly using a trusted telephone number, such as the number printed on the back of a bank card or listed on the institution’s official website.
Residents who encounter a suspicious situation or feel uncomfortable may also contact the Ashland Police Division at 419-289-1911.
