Don't Get Hooked on Latest "Phishing" Scam - KXNet - Bismarck/Minot/Williston/Dickinson

Don't Get Hooked on Latest "Phishing" Scam

It's round two of a phone scam involving a local bank, in which consumers are prompted to give out personal debit or credit information.

Whether you bank there or not,  these scams can cost a hefty price.

A saturation of scam calls is flooding phones in North Dakota.

"That is the identical message I just received myself on my personal cell phone, and consumers and telephone subscribers should know that your bank will never call you and leave a recorded message like that." says Parrell Grossman/Director of Consumer Protection Division.

Messages that can cost you a pretty penny if not handled with care.

"If you have several thousand dollars in your bank account and you provide information to con artists or crooks, they could clean out your account in moments." says Grossman.

Don't be fooled--Gate City Bank is in no way connected to these calls.

This latest phishing scam is spreading across the state, and proving to be convincing.

Gate City Marketing Manager Janess Sveet says a large volume of concerned customers and non-customers have been calling in from all across the state.

"I am aware there are customers that have provided their account information, but no consumers have reported to Attorney Generals office, that their account has been accessed or lost information."

If you have given out account information:

Contact your bank or credit card immediately--to cancel your card--and have a new card issued.

You can be compensated if you report it immediately.

But overall--getting a message like this--should cost your trust--when someone asks for personal information.

"The best thing you can do and the best way to protect yourself is simply hang up, don't press one under any circumstances, and never, ever under any conditions provide any personal confidential or other bank account information." says Grossman.

There are many variations of this scam--Others involving Master Card or Visa.

Grossman says scams like these are difficult to investigate, because they're trying to track down calls where the number is not real.

He says the source is most likely located outside of the United States.